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Opinions of Friday, 15 October 2010

Columnist: Tawiah, Francis

The Vice- President Tells Lies In London

The Vice- President Tells Lies In London: Ghana Makes History In Her Economy.



Where has the Vice-President got such haughtiness to tell Ghanaians such a far-fetched and excavated long stories.

* The Vice President John Dramani Mahama has noted that the nation has achieved a historical record in the management of the country’s economy during the past 18 months by turning round the horrific economy in the beginning of the year 2009 when the National Democratic Congress took over the administration of the country.

* He said the nation’s currency has been stabilized for the longest period since it was deregulated and for the first time in the history of the county, inflation has dropped consistently, for 12 consecutive months to a single digit, an achievement viewed by the international community as unprecedented. The Vice President was addressing a gathering of NDC party members at a special fund raising dinner and dance in London, to raise funds for a new party headquarters complex in Accra.

* “We have worked phenomenally in respect of putting our economy on a very sound footing” Mr. Mahama said.

*He said the country has been able to achieve this by putting in place pleasant economic measures among others to drastically reduce food import and boosting local food production.

*Mr. Mahama expressed delight in the enhancement of the nation’s food basket saying “we have been able to achieve this primarily due to the food production policies and programs that are going on very well.”

*He quoted rice import reduction as over 100 thousand tones and an increase in maize production to the highest level ever adding that “now World Food Program is buying food from Ghana for their supplies in Mali and Niger”

*The Vice President noted that by the end of this year, the nation’s GDP will grow by seven percent with the figure rising to between 10 and 15 in 2012. He predicted that Ghana’s GDP may double between six and seven years’ time considering the pace of development of the economy.

*He said the NDC is determined to lead Ghanaian to achieve “the better Ghana” it has promised the people, acknowledging that “all is not that smooth but with dedication, commitment and the zeal of all we will deliver

*Mr. Mahama noted that the country is making a lot of strides in the right direction. The achievements are visibly there for all to see and we are determined to build upon this so that all Ghanaians will derive the maximum benefit from our services as a party.



If the economy in Ghana is really being put on a “sound footing” by the NDC government as the Vice-President claims, why then should President Mill get loans from China and Japan?

Sadly every 2nd Ghanaian is crying of economic hardships in the country since the NDC government.

Business people are “developing longer lips” because the NDC government has illogically increased import duties. That’s even the more reason why food importation is not lucrative for the importers and the local food like rice is equally expensive and tasteless. Is it force that one must buy Ghanaian locally produced rice? That is communistic and not democratic.

Increasing import duties and therefore forcing Ghanaians indirectly to purchase food has nothing doing with better economy.

Niger and Mali have been buying food from Ghana since Gold Coast, that not a new economic achievement.

All is well with our economy according to the Vice-President but almost all the major roads in the country are gradually turning to “gravel paths”.

I wonder why the vice-President could say something (untruth) about better economic achievements in Ghana by the NDC government, while the Ghanaian people are rather still suffering but not seeing any economic betterment in the country.

FRANCIS TAWIAH (Duisburg – Germany)