'Ghana Beyond Aid' not Akufo-Addo's idea; Mills/Mahama gov't used it first – Garbrah

Presidential hopeful Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has said the Akufo-Addo-led administration’s much touted Ghana Beyond Aid mantra, was first introduced in a document in 2012 during the presidency of the late Prof John Evans Atta Mills.

Nana Akufo-Addo has been trumpeting his desire to move Ghana beyond aid since he was sworn in as president.

He has, on many international platforms, said Ghana’s relationhip with the world must be characterised by an increase in trade and investment cooperation, not aid.

Ghana Beyond Aid means the country, in the near-future, will be able to maximise all available resources to address the needs of the country to a point where Ghana is able to cater for its people without a cup in hand for aid.

Although Ghana Beyond Aid has become a mantra of the Akufo-Addo government, Mr Spio-Garbrah said the current president is not the initiator of the idea.

He told Dr Etse Sikanku on World Affairs on Class91.3FM that: “There is a document produced during the 2012 period under professor Atta Mills and president Mahama when the language Ghana Beyond Aid was first enunciated”.

He referred doubters to Prof Kusi Newman of the Institute of Fiscal Studies (FIS), who, he claims has the relevant documents to back his assertion.