Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, has strongly criticized the leadership of organized labour for being swayed by the government’s ineffective and superficial efforts to combat illegal mining.
He accused them of undermining the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and other groups by secretly and prematurely calling off the widely supported and much-publicized strike.
According to Franklin Cudjooe, this action shows a lack of commitment to holding the government accountable for its unimpressive and insufficient response to the pressing issue, which continues to threaten communities and the environment.
“Okay, it seems we all have to carry our own cross now. I have learned long ago not to invest all my energy and hope in such mass actions against flagrant abuse of rights, economy, and society because, in the end, some of your compatriots shouting have their own agendas”.
Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa
Franklin Cudjoe expressed his disappointment by stating that some individuals, including himself, have developed resilience against the government’s empty promises and deceptive tactics.
He recalled how the President and his administration once vowed never to interfere with the public’s finances but ultimately imposed harsh financial losses, or “haircuts,” on citizens’ savings, leaving many people financially strained.
He also criticized the inconsistency of promising not to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but later turning to it in desperation, arriving, as he put it, “in an ambulance.”
Cudjoe further highlighted the government’s pledge to reduce taxes, which, contrary to their words, resulted in the imposition of numerous new taxes that are harsh, uncountable, and suffocating to businesses, stifling economic growth and entrepreneurship.
He emphasized the irony in the government’s commitment not to borrow recklessly, only to witness a dramatic surge in national debt, creating what he described as an iceberg larger than the one that sank the Titanic.
This mounting debt, he indicated, has led to Ghana’s exclusion from international financial markets, severely limiting the country’s access to much-needed foreign capital and investment opportunities.
According to Franklin Cudjoe, these broken promises and reckless policies are clear indicators of the government’s failure to effectively manage the country’s economy and safeguard the well-being of its citizens.
Franklin Cudjoe Critiques Cedi’s Devaluation
Furthermore, Franklin Cudjoe lamented that despite government assurances that the Ghanaian currency, the cedi, would be safeguarded by strong economic fundamentals, it has become severely devalued.
He pointed out that the cedi, now struggling at nearly GHC 17.00 to the dollar, is in a much weaker state compared to 2016 when it stood at just 4 cedis per dollar.
According to him, this dramatic decline shows that the cedi is now “slavishly shackled,” requiring four times the protection it once needed to withstand the dollar’s pressure.
This, Cudjoe argued, highlights the government’s failure to stabilize and protect the currency as promised.
“That they will guarantee the dignity and rights of every Ghanaian and yet, orchestrated and executed the greatest election gerrymandering ever in Ghana’s history together with the Electoral Commission to callously disenfranchise my people in SALL in 2020”.
Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa
Accordingly, he asserted that given all these issues and inconsistencies, it would be futile and unrealistic for critics to expect him to remain neutral or unbiased in his commentary. “I am not an idiot, [and] lease identify your kind, enjoy your schmuck party, and stay off my case”.
Franklin Cudjoe accordingly expressed his strong disdain and outright rejection of those who undermined labor’s collective efforts while pretending to offer support.
He condemned the actions of individuals and groups that deliberately sabotaged the movement’s intentions, accusing them of hypocrisy, betrayal, and a lack of genuine commitment to the cause of the workers. “I hereby declare a strike to strike out everyone who contributed to the carnage”.
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