The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says that the Afrobarometer report noting that most Ghanaians feel that the country is “moving in the wrong direction” is a confirmation of the Akufo-Addo administration’s failed promises.
The party, in a statement, said this report must serve as a wake-up call for the government.
“This latest report corroborates widespread public opinion on the abysmal and unimpressive performance of this government, which must be a great source of worry and a wake-up call for President Akufo-Addo and his team who have failed to deliver on almost all their lofty campaign promises.”
The party described the findings as adverse saying it is a “clear confirmation of the unbearable cost of living and excruciating economic hardships Ghanaians are reeling under as a result of the bad and insensitive policies of President Akufo-Addo.”
The NDC in the statement signed by its National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, cited the purported profligate lifestyle of President Akufo-Addo as reasons for this decline in trust as well as the promises the opposition party claims he has failed to honour.
“This huge decline in trust in the President is as a result of the fact that, President Akufo-Addo’s character has failed the test of time. Ghanaians have seen through the effort to shield the President from the wrongdoings of his government.
“They have seen how he has increased borrowing after promising to reduce same, with very little to show for. They have witnessed how he has imposed more taxes on them after promising to move Ghana from taxation to production.”
And above all, the NDC said President Akufo-Addo has become an “enabler and promoter of corruption and criminal conduct by his government officials and party members.”
What the Afrobarometer report said
The Afrobarometer report in question stated that six out of ten Ghanaians, representing 59% of the population, believe that the country is going in the wrong direction, while only 35% felt that the country was headed in the right direction.
The report, which looked at the government’s economic performance noted that although the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank seem to approve the economic policies of the government, citizens are of a different view.
Per figures from the recent report, it meant that Ghanaians’ approval ratings on indicators of their government’s economic performance have declined sharply compared to 2017.
It however noted that about 51% of Ghanaians were optimistic that things will get better in the next year.
Afrobarometer report on economic performance is good feedback – Govt
Deputy Minister of Information, Pius Hadzide, said on Citi TV’s current affairs show, the Big Issue, that the report points “to the fact that the people do recognize and appreciate that this administration inherited a very challenging economy.”
“…We have had to reverse the decline that the economy was facing when we took over and stabilized it.”
Read the full statement by the NDC below: