A staunch member of
the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Joseph Boakye Danquah, has responded to claims by
former President Mahama that his government made Ghana the fastest growing
economy in the world.
Mr. Danquah, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Bethel Management Group Inc
and the 2015 NPP Parliamentary aspirant for Subin constituency, told
Peacefmonline.com in an interview that he finds it disheartening to listen
to politicians like the former president when he claims credit for no work
done.
Former President John Mahama has claimed credit for Ghana’s fastest-growing
economy in the world status.
According to him, the Akufo-Addo government did nothing towards that
achievement but only reaping from the previous administration’s “hard
work”. According to him, “whatever is responsible for the growth, the
growth is only in the oil sector”, Mr. Mahama said, adding: “All that
growth, fastest-growing economy in the world, it’s the oil sector”.
A World Bank Report recently named Ghana among the four fastest-growing
economies in Africa. The other African countries include Ethiopia, Rwanda and
Cote d’Ivoire.
But JB Danquah contested the claims by the former President noting that the
posture of him continues to expose him as someone who knows less about economic
growth.
The NPP stalwart explained that if the Akufo-Addo led government had not put in
key measures to control inflation, fiscal policy, exchange rate and interest
rate etc, Ghana, would not have witnessed the growth that has attracted global
attention.
In his view, growth in the oil sector as pointed out by Mr. Mahama is not the
sole pointer in determining the growth of Ghana.
“What Mr. Mahama is saying is very disingenuous, dishonest and he should be
ashamed of himself”, JB Danquah said.
He further explained that “if Mr. Mahama is claiming credit for the growth in
the economy of Ghana and he thinks that the investment his administration made
in the oil field is now benefitting the country, then he should equally take
the blames if we talk about bad roads and unemployed youth because it all
started during his tenure.”
Mr. JB Danquah added that “it is very disheartening if politicians like him
(Mahama) decide to cherry pick what is good for them and leave what they
consider bad for others to bear for them.”
He was quick to add that Ghanaian voters were not buying into the messages of
Mr. Mahama and the NDC because of trust.
In his view, “Mahama must be honest and truthful. You are claiming the oil
fields were your investments during your presidency but you are not giving any
credit to former President Kufuor who started the whole thing. He then turns
round to blame the Akufo-Addo government for anything going on in the economy
currently but when someone comes to praise the economy of Ghana, he is quick to
say he did it”.
Mr. Danquah added that if Mr. Mahama wants to take credit for the good things
happening in the economy under President Akufo-Addo, then he should also take
credit for everything bad happening in Ghana.
“Mahama should own up and say I am the cause of the bad roads, I am the cause
of unemployment and I am the one making the prices of fuel go up”.
He ended by stating that Ghana, is the only country we have and politicians
like Mr. Mahama must be honest when addressing his party members.