The Minority Caucus in Parliament has criticized President John Mahama for describing Ghana’s economic situation as a “crime scene” and accusing the previous government of “criminally mismanaging” the economy.
President Mahama made the statement last week during a meeting with labour unions to propose a 10% upward adjustment in basic salaries.
In a statement, the NPP Minority Caucus condemned what it called the president’s “baseless allegations” and accused him of deliberately making the comment to justify his government’s persecution of political opponents.
“This was a calculated statement and a deliberate move to set the stage for the state-sponsored persecution we are witnessing today,” the statement said.
“By branding the previous administration’s economic management as criminal, the president has given cover for his government’s actions to unjustly target political opponents under the guise of accountability.”
The Minority Caucus also defended the economic performance of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, stating that a “mismanaged economy” could not have undertaken the initiatives that were successfully implemented.
“Contrary to President Mahama’s rather baseless allegations, the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration did not ‘criminally mismanage’ the economy—it worked tirelessly to build a stronger and more resilient nation.”
“If the economy was indeed a ‘crime scene,’ how did the NPP successfully implement Free SHS, ensuring access to education for millions of Ghanaian children? How did we establish STEM schools and invest in education infrastructure to equip the next generation with 21st-century skills? How did we roll out the most ambitious road infrastructure development program in Ghana’s history, transforming connectivity across the country?”
The statement further highlighted key achievements of the previous government, including the restoration of nursing and teacher trainee allowances, the construction of landing beaches to boost the fishing industry, modernization of rail networks, and sustaining the One District One Factory (1D1F) program, which created thousands of jobs.
“The economy, despite global challenges, remained strong enough under the NPP to pay public sector workers without delays while continuing major national development programs. These are not the marks of an economy that was mismanaged—these are the hallmarks of a government that prioritized growth, innovation, and the well-being of its people. President Mahama’s attempt to rewrite history cannot erase the tangible progress Ghanaians experienced under the NPP.”
The Minority Caucus urged the government to focus on delivering its campaign promises instead of resorting to what it described as “politically motivated attacks.”
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