The Minority in Parliament, earlier this week, predicted economic doom for the country under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo.
They claimed poor management of the economy and the increasing debt portfolio will plunge the nation into severe recession, as experienced in 1983.
According to them, the government's economic policy for 2018 will potentially revert Ghana to the status of Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) by the year 2019.
The Minority made this know during a roundtable breakfast discussion of the 2018 budget and economic policy in Accra on Monday, November 13, as the Ranking member on the Finance Committee and Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson indicated the country's public debt had hiked up from GHC 122.6 billion in January this year to GHC 138.6 billion as of June 2017.
But seasoned journalist Kweku Baako has opposed the position of the Minority on the economy under the Akufo-Addo administration.
Speaking to sit-in host of Peacefm's 'Kokrokoo' Nana Yaw Kesseh, Kweku Baako described them as "alarmists".
He pointed out that there were a lot of factors that led to the infamous 1983 severe recession that hit the country and not necessarily, the bad management of the economy.
Mr. Baako revealed that during the 1938 era, although he was imprisoned, he witnessed the hardships that characterized the Ghanaian economy and the Akufo-Addo government cannot be said to have plunged the country into such economic abyss that was experienced in 1983.
To him, the Minority cannot compare the bright economic standing under the current administration to the 1983 hardship.
"....That’s why I’m saying they’re Prophets of doom and peddlers of rumors…They use such an important platform to peddle rumors, street corner rumors", he stressed.
He expressed optimism that the government will not send the country back to the status of HIPC as trumpeted by the Minority.
According to him, though there are inevitable economic deficits, it's however significant to note that the government has taken major decisions that have positive effects on the economy.
“There’s no perfect system out there. I haven’t seen any perfect budget before. Whatever it is, this 2018 budget will show that there were areas especially revenue generation and so forth where we have difficulties. So, we will look at the ways and means the government will show how to deal with those challenges that came in 2017. Everybody knows the government inherited an economy that was hugely challenged, if not in coma”.
He advised the Minority to utilize opportunities they get in addressing national issues to project a "certain level of knowledge, information and experience from them, especially when they’re dealing with issues of public interest”.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Mr. Know all Kweko Bakoo. Engineer, Accountant, Economist,Doctor of Medicine etc give break you know nothing in Budget analysis
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; Character of NDC.
HOW CAN YOU COMPARE A BRIGHT ECONOMY LIKE THIS TO THAT OF THE 1983 RECESSION. THE MINORITY ARE NOT JUST READING AT ALL. THEY ARE VERY LAZZY. THEY WILL NOT READ TO ENLIGHTING THEIR ARGUEMENT CAPACITY. WE NEED A COMPETENT MINORITY IN THIS COUNTRY
shame ndc
Uncle Kweku well said, do not mind those irresponsible opposition members, I have seen why we suffered under their leadership, As someone who is from central region,Ato Forson is a disgrace to us, He should be humble and learn and stop disgracing fantes by rushing to do ***barred word*** press conferences. If suct personality was deputy finance minister chosen by JDM then god save Ghana. Ato grow ooh because you look empty each time you speaks.
They are not only "bunch of alarmists: but miserable ***barred word*** too. They are soaked in 419 so deep that all they were shouting was 419 at the parliament when the budget was being read. It became very hard for listeners to hear what the finance minister was reading. So sad an experience.
When NDC hiked the debt up to GHC122.6 billions for ordinary Ghanaians to pay what improvement in standard of living did Ghanaians get from it?
I wonder why Ndc has not seen the direction the country is going. Do they think NPP was going to rule like their create and loot governance? Aaaahh!!! these Ndc guys. At times i ask if they attended the same school we attended. From their Mahama through their finance to their last labourer, they don't know nothing. They are all brain dead. National Deceit Cult (Ndc)is a cult of liars, "stealers", conmen who think Ghanaians can't think like them. Ghaanaians are very clever people and well informed . Because they lied to come to power in 2009, they think it will work. They have at this time failed. Mother nature is against Ndc.
Haha stomach so call journalist pls Ifor i may ask around u a trained journalist or a historian who chop because of historical occur ancestors pls give us a break if u were in dis country for de last 8 years wen nice was in power u wouldn't talk like dis bias man go to hellmanority will always speak if u like die Mr man puuuuu
My boss you too much. I wonder where you get your knowledge from so that we can send some of these ndc morons to go learn some sense. it is only an ed10t like that kk guy that will insult you. keep doing the good work that you are doing. you are my mentor and I wish to follow your footsteps with these kind of briliant analysis in the future. ndc are only good at causing fear and panic among the public whenever they are in opposition. but thank God majority of the population are well informed and knows more tho we still have some ed10ts in the system.