Former Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Ajumako Hon. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, has vowed not to allow members of the New Patriotic Party administration to talk down a resilient economy they have inherited from the National Democratic Congress.
Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Marfo has said Ghana's economic figures the NPP inherited from the NDC are not encouraging; describing it as one that is "extremely, heavily indebted but not poor."
According to him, Ghana's budget deficit is hovering at a worrying rate of 8% higher than the 5% expected under the IMF agreement. Ghana is currently under a three year programme with the IMF as part of efforts to bring credibility and stability to Ghana's economy.
As part of the program the country was expected to maintain a budget deficit of 5%, something Osafo Maafo said the previous government could not do.
What is worse, the Senior Minister who was Finance Minister in the erstwhile Kufuor administration said the debt to GDP is 72% a figure which can only be suffocating.
He pointed out that though Ghana’s economy is very strong fundamentally, those who managed it under the NDC were the problem.
To him, "the economy is bleeding seriously".
But Hon. Ato Forson in an interview on Radio Gold which was monitored by Peacefmonline.com stated that the NPP has started painting a gloomy picture to create room for their probable excuses in the event that they are unable to fulfill the numerous promises they made to Ghanaians during the 2016 electioneering campaign.
He advised Mr. Osafo-Marfo and his fellow party mates not to downplay the role ex-President Mahama’s administration played to build the economy by rating it on nominal GDP.
The Member of Parliament for the Ajumako Enyan Essiam Consistency advised the Senior Minister to stay away from “speculations” and keep in mind that there is no need for him to comment like "he is still in opposition".
“This is a political party that has been in opposition for 8 years. During their campaign, they talked down on the Ghana's economy.
They must leave the past behind them. They are no longer in opposition so they should check the numbers before they speculate. They should wait and not use one indices to judge the Ghanaian economy”, he advised.
“President Mahama has left behind a strong economy for them to take over”, he added.
“…it is early to know the nominal GDP- the Statistical Service is yet to come out with it... It is too early to put a figure on it”, he noted.
He continued that “the nominal GDP is yet to come out…the final numbers are not out, the ones we have now are provisional….to conclude that our economy isn’t strong is misleading”.
Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email: [email protected]
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Hey ATO better leave those technocrats to sort those mess you guys have created, at least you are still an MP so you can come back to UK on holidays to continue the security job.Bridge Security is still there and they are ready to offer some construction site.
I am yet to come across a group that had painfully lost an election like the NDC. You can tell from the way they talk, the way they hold on to trivial issues, their comments on this platform, etc. NPP ministers are even yet to get to work but NDC is already saying NPP is running away from their promises. Eh!!! . The pain is too much for NDC. Please, NDC, relax and chill.
Apuuu schooling. The Akufo Addo Government should let us know the total mismanagement from all the Ministries esp. the Finance Ministry to shame these "create, loot & share" people. Just wait, we'll show you your smoothness levels like you saw with the elections+results.
Mr Senior plse listen to your lectures very well and not conclude cos you are in power. Ghana is not like The Gambia to hide or hold on anything from the country. We are going to face the fact. NPP has come to fix what was wrong so focus and talk less.
And how did Ato Forson schooled Osafo Marfo....?
Osarfo Marfo in a liar, now he has been promoted to post of senior lying minister. Shame! just fulfil the promises and stop the lies. Yu were voted for because of the promises.
Is NPP now running away from their promises? lets be serious for once. Ya te abr3. Dr. Bawumia said the economy is collapsed yet he went on promising heaven on earth to Ghanaians so what is the point for NPP to be talking about economy now? just fulfil your unrealistic promises. What Atto Forson is saying is right, Bawumia knew the economy was good that is why he promised millions for constituencies, he even said they will include most of the promises in their first budget, that tells you that NDC did well. Why is Osarfo Marfo now lying to Ghanaians? that old man who said other tribes are not qualified to rule Ghana because they don't have resources is at it again and this time telling lies
Aaaaahhhh, hwe die pompo kyere wo motuem! Do you know one plus one and two minus one?
What should we be expecting from the NDC? They can't stop their propaganda. Sad this handsome young man decided to join such l..i..e..r..s and t..h..i..e..v..e..s..
Did Ato Forson say "resilient economy"? What figures did he use to back that up? NDC atrofo they are at it again.