A former Chief Operations Officer of the UT group, Captain Budu Koomson (Rtd) has accused government officials of leading flamboyant lifestyles even though the country is in a dire economic state.
According to him, the luxurious standard of living of members of the Mahama administration does not reflect that of a country which is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.
He said: �It is not the lack of money that is the problem; it is how we are using the little we have; that is the problem and that is what makes it annoying and painful.�
The Ghanaian economy since the beginning of 2014 has been faced with some critical challenges including high inflation, rising debt, slow economic growth, power crisis, high cost of living, amongst others.
This has compelled the nation to seek a three-year programme from the IMF beginning January 2015. The country has witnessed a series of demonstrations by various labour and pressure groups who have been demanding better working conditions, an end to corruption and better economic management.
President John Mahama in an address to the Ghanaian community in Qatar on Tuesday acknowledged the legitimacy of the demands of workers, but pointed out that the delays in resolving their grievances is not deliberate.
�I know workers� demands may be legitimate, but the reality is that the money is not there,� he said. But in an interview with Citi News, Captain Budu Koomson stated that the existing crisis is evident for all to see �but those in authority over us; their lifestyles are not showing it.�
He dared any government official to discount his claims saying, �I am challenging anyone to tell me that what I am saying is wrong. Their lifestyles are not showing it.�
According to him, no citizen can even dare tell �a Deputy, Deputy, Deputy Minister in Ghana here� that the economy is being mismanaged because �he will fire you and that is a poor man going to the IMF.�
Captain Budu Koomson thus advised government officials to put the country�s resources to good use for the benefit of all.
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