The Minority in Parliament has called on the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam and the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to be accountable Ghanaians and stop apologizing for the recklessness, mismanagement and failed stewardship.
According to the Minority, time has run out for the Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam and the failed Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government adding that they are completely bereft of ideas to turn-around the bankrupt economy they have created.
The NDC MPs led by leader Ato Forson made these comments in a statement released on Friday August 9, 2024 following an apology made by the Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam on Tuesday August 6, 2024 at a town hall meeting in Accra.
Dr. Amin Adam at the meeting acknowledged the hardship Ghanaians currently face rendered an apology for the hardships forced by the DDEP.
“We decided to restructure our debts because it was one of the requirements by the IMF. We started with the domestic debt exchange programme, the domestic debt exchange programme was very successful, achieving 95 percent participation. On this note, I would like to appeal to the people of this country to forgive us.
“It is never the intention of any government to impose hardships on its people, more so the NPP government that has demonstrated that we want to reduce the burden of the Ghanaian people. It was a necessary, important decision at the time. If we had avoided it our development or economy would not be what it is today. All the support you gave us during the DDEP has contributed largely to the recovery our economy is seeing today.
“This is why I want to appeal to you to forgive us but also to thank you on behalf of the president for the sacrifices, for the efforts that you all have made to participate in the DDEP”, he said.
However responding to the apology, the Minority in Parliament stated that the pain imposed on Ghanaians including pensioners by the DDEP was unnecessary and unpardonable.
“The haircuts that Ghanaian Banks and individuals suffered were not only from the DDEP but also the restructuring of external debts such as Eurobonds. This government defaulted in servicing debt owed to Eurobond holders since 2022. This caused Ghanaian Banks and individuals to lose about 37% of their investment in Eurobonds,” the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson stated.
Additionally, the Minority said, It is an undeniable fact that Ghanaians are experiencing unprecedented economic hardship and poverty. The rich have been reduced to middle-class, the middle-class has become poor and the poor have become poorer with the World Bank estimating that one-third (33.3%) of Ghana’s population is expected to be in poverty.
“Ghanaians deserve accountability and not apologies for their recklessness, mismanagement and failed stewardship”, the statement added.
