Dr. Randy Abbey, host of Good Morning Ghana, has sharply criticized Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam over his explanations for Ghana’s economic crisis. Speaking on his show, Abbey accused the minister of being dishonest about the factors leading to the country’s financial struggles.
Dr. Abbey claimed that Dr. Amin Adam’s apology and subsequent justifications for the economic mess were attempts to gaslight Ghanaians. He particularly took issue with the minister’s strategy of citing developmental projects as the cause of the economic downturn.
Abbey argued that Ghana’s economic troubles stem from the government’s failure to control its spending and borrowing. He expressed his frustration, stating, “When I hear the Finance Minister make those comments and then in the same breath say that despite the challenges, this is ongoing, that is ongoing… You have come to put your hands in my pocket and bag, taken my hard-earned money, and you turn around to say that you’ve done something brilliant. I find that very insulting.”
Abbey highlighted the impact of the Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP) on citizens. He mentioned that the program required significant sacrifices from Ghanaians, including changes to savings interest rates and bond maturities.
On August 6, Dr. Amin Adam apologized to Ghanaians for the hardships caused by the DDEP. He emphasized that the government did not intend to impose difficulties on the citizens. “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 DDEP was a very successful programme, achieving 95% participation,” he said.
Dr. Amin Adam appealed for forgiveness and thanked Ghanaians for their support during the DDEP. He stated, “It was a necessary, very important decision at the time, that if we had avoided it, our economy would not recover as it has recovered today. The decisions we made, and all the support you gave us during the DDEP, have contributed largely to the recovery our economy is seeing today.”
Abbey’s comments reflect a broader dissatisfaction among Ghanaians regarding the government’s handling of the economy. Many citizens feel burdened by the financial measures imposed and are skeptical of the government’s claims of economic recovery.
The Finance Minister’s apology has done little to assuage these concerns. Critics argue that the government’s actions have led to increased financial strain on ordinary Ghanaians. They believe that more transparent and accountable governance is necessary to rebuild public trust.
Source: Ghana Web
