The former Deputy CEO of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Kwame Prempeh, has described Ghana’s ongoing petroleum crisis as “dicey”, while urging the government to be more forthright with the public about the role of external factors in shaping the country’s economic challenges.

Speaking on JoyNews on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Prempeh explained that he was pleased to see the NDC, including President John Dramani Mahama, finally acknowledging that global developments have a direct impact on Ghana’s economy, noting that for years the party insisted otherwise.

"The petroleum crisis is a dicey one. And I, for one, am happy, you know, that at least the NDC, including President Mahama, is now admitting that external factors have an impact on Ghana. I think they should be brutally honest and admit that they were wrong when previously they were saying it had no impact," he said.

"Now they are clearly admitting that, yes, what happens outside Ghana also affects Ghana, you know. And it has been like that for a very long time."

He criticised what he described as the party’s reliance on propaganda in the past, arguing that while such tactics may help win elections, they cannot sustain governance.

"But of course, for propaganda purposes, they say they did. And you know, I always say that you can lie and you can use propaganda to win an election, but you cannot govern with lies and propaganda because it will catch up with you. And that is what is happening now with the NDC. And it is good that they are saying they are going to do something about it," Prempeh added.

Prempeh further stated that although it is encouraging to hear the NDC promise to take steps to address the petroleum situation, they must first admit to Ghanaians that they misled them in the past.

"But they should admit to Ghanaians that they lied to Ghanaians, used propaganda to come to power and that external factors do affect Ghana as well," he insisted.

VKB/BAI

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