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Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has ranked low the President Akufo-Addo’s address on the economy.
He indicated that despite seeing some measures that were outline as apt, the president gave less hope in the midst of the economic crisis.
Analyzing the president’s address read on Sunday, October 30, 2022, Professor Gyampo scored the president 3% out of a 10% because to him the government seems not interested in the kind of austerity interventions that would help solve the economic challenges.
“Following our current economic miserization, many Ghanaians including myself, asked the President to halt his tour of the regions and to show leadership by addressing the nation. It is not clear whether he listened to these calls, but the bottom line is, he’s addressed us.
“But beyond this, the President showed clearly that his government fundamentally has no solution to our crisis, thereby lending credence to the calls for his resignation. In the lead up to his election in 2016, he knew that not many Ghanaians paid taxes and there were several promises from his quarters to widen the tax net. Why hasn’t this been done in the last six year and why are we now going to do it?
“It appears the President and his government are not really interested in the kind of austerity interventions that would help, probably because he and his appointees aren’t prepared to alter their opulent lifestyles,” he said.
Prof Gyampo further quizzed why the president would fail to respond to the several clarion calls for a downsizing of his government and was surprised he made no announcement in of austerity in his address to reduce other expenses.
It is against this background, the former coordinator of the Ghana Political Parties Programme believes President Akufo-Addo, and his government have no fundamental solution to the crisis.
He added “In the light of all the above, I will score the President’s Address 3/10 as he did not give much hope in the midst of our economic crisis, beyond the assurance of no haircuts.”
The researcher, however, highlighted that in spite of his argument, the president must be applauded for some pronouncement of commitment he made to minimize the tension creeping the hardship.
“To be fair, he said something that was very commendable and assuring in helping to ease the panic and tension that have worked to further exacerbate our economic crisis. Indeed, it was pleasant to hear the President saying, “there would be no haircuts”.
“This was an emphatic statement that can slow down the rate at which people are disinvesting their monies from treasury bills for the purchasing of dollars, thereby worsening our woes.
“The assurance of no haircut is a direct and straightforward message that can help in restoring calm and partly fixing our crisis. In my view, the President must be commended for this bold and audacious statement,” he underscores.
