Failing Economy� Ghanaians Blame Gov�t

A cross-section of Ghanaians, particularly in the three northern regions, have blamed the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the numerous economic problems confronting the country. According to the people, they are highly disappointed in President Mahama�s management of the economy. The stressed that the poor management of the president and his administration is what has worsened the plight of Ghanaians. �In fact, President Mahama is a big disappointment to us, particularly those of us in the northern part of Ghana, and we can no longer chest out as people from his home region looking at the way he has messed things up�,� Shaibu Ibrahim, a farmer in Savelugu, told our reporter. Shaibu and his colleagues who were respondents to an interview by producers of political talk show, Ghana Great and Strong aired on Ghana�s premiere internet-based radio station, www.hedjorleonlineradio.com, attributed their misfortunes in the agricultural sector to the administration. They added that the mismanagement of the economy has had a toll on their finances to the extent that �we cannot even afford pesticides and other inputs for agriculture�,� a view which was collaborated by the Progressive People�s Party (PPP) Communication�s team member and a panel member on the show, Murtala Mohammed. President Mahama, according to Murtala Mohammed, was not only a �disappointment� but also a leader of the �worst form of government this country has ever had since independence.� His style of leadership, he said, has contributed to the many economic problems facing the country resulting in abject poverty, hunger, misery, diseases and above all lack of infrastructural development. The PPP communication team member was amazed at the frequent rate at which prices of goods and services keep on increasing daily at the detriment of ordinary Ghanaian, who can hardly afford a decent three square meal a day. �It is very appalling and annoying how President Mahama�s style of governance has brought untold hardships on the millions of Ghanaians today�. �It is obvious that the NDC has no clue about the economic problems confronting this nation hence their inability to turn things around for the benefit of every Ghanaian,� he added. Citing examples of some products on the market like a bag of cement which was sold at GH�20.00, but now selling at GH� at 25.00, he blamed the situation on poor economic management of President Mahama�s administration. According to Murtala Mohammed, the general outlook of the country�s economy underscores the incompetence and ineptitude of the ruling NDC government. To this end, he made it clear that President Mahama and his NDC do not deserve a second term. He wondered why some government spokespersons like the Minister of State in charge of Allied and Financial Institutions, Fiifi Kwetey, would find it expedient to do propaganda with the economy by always trumpeting that the economy is good. �If the likes of Fiifi Kwetey think they can continue to deceive us, then they are joking,� he stressed. �We are indeed well awakened and what is happening currently is a true reflection of bad economic policies of the NDC,� he insisted. He challenged the NDC spokespersons to leave the comfort of their homes and offices and travel to the north to have a feel of how bad Mahama�s economy has rendered many homes poorer than they used to be. To this end, Murtala called on President Mahama and his NDC government to reconsider their decision of imposing 17.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on banks for certain banking services. A correspondent from the Ashanti region, James Appiakorang Jr., also presented similar findings from the region. He said respondents in the region attributed the happenings in the country to �pure maladministration� adding �this country needs competent and experienced hands to manage its affairs.� According to him, the interviewees expressed their disappointment about the current state of the economy, thereby calling for a total change of leadership in 2016. �Businesses are folding up and others are relocating to the neighbouring countries because they cannot meet the operational cost of their work,� he disclosed. Their main concern, he said, was how importers, especially auto parts dealers, were finding it difficult to get money to import auto parts into the country. For his part, host of the programme, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, advised the government to be more assertive and transparent for broader consultation on the economy. He also charged government to deal decisively with corruption issues.