The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has defended former President John Agyekum Kufuor following his recent assessment of key policy decisions under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration that influenced Ghana’s economic trajectory and contributed to the party’s defeat in the 2024 elections.

Former President Kufuor, in an interview on The Delay Show, pointed to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), the National Cathedral project and the failed Power Distribution Services (PDS) concession as some of the challenging decisions that shaped public perception and impacted electoral outcomes.

Reacting to the former president’s remarks, the NPP’s Deputy General Secretary, Haruna Mohammed, said Kufuor’s comments only echoed realities already acknowledged by senior government officials, including former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo himself.

“Former President Kufuor spoke the obvious. What he said is not different from the facts. Even President Akufo-Addo himself has said that the DDEP was a very difficult decision for him,” Haruna Mohammed stated.

He noted that Kufuor’s comments were not an indictment but a fair reflection of the economic turbulence that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Mohammed, Kufuor’s broader context was that the Akufo-Addo administration performed strongly until the onset of COVID-19, which triggered global economic shocks.

I didn't understand Akufo-Addo's leadership – Former President Kufuor

“If you listen to Kufuor, he says the Akufo-Addo government was doing very well until COVID came. After COVID, things were never the same, and policies had to be implemented to keep Ghana’s economy strong. What he said is obvious, and the party fully agrees with it,” he said.
The Deputy General Secretary stressed that although the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme was painful and unpopular, it played a significant role in stabilising Ghana’s economy during a critical period.

He argued that the economic progress the country is currently experiencing under the Mahama administration is partly due to the foundation laid by the previous government.

“DDEP was a difficult decision, but today this government is enjoying the programme as it came with so many positives. We were given debt reliefs, cancellations, and extensions and today Ghana’s economy is stronger,” he added.

“The Finance Minister admitted that some of the debt programmes were very good for the economy, and they are enjoying the fruits.”

AM

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