Eight wasted years: How Ghana retrogressed under Akufo-Addo

Since 1992, Ghana has seen some levels of development under successive
governments, until 2016 to date. The developments vary from democratic to
dispensation to infrastructural transformation. Though many will argue that
these various types of developments were not significant or impactful enough, but at least there were developments.

Prior to the 2016 general elections, the country had seen some unprecedented
levels of infrastructural development that served as a prelude to the economic
emancipation of Ghana as a developing country. For a developing country to
develop, there has to be adequate and sufficient infrastructural development.
This serves as a “precondition to take-off,” after which “take-off” towards
development is achieved. As soon as the “take-off” is achieved, economic
transformation becomes inevitable. This is according to Walt Whiteman Rostow in his model of classic stages of Economic Growth.

Rostow (1960) stated that any developing country that has at least 85% of its
infrastructural challenges solved is automatically on the path to becoming a
developed country within two decades.

Under H.E. John Dramani Mahama’s and late President John Evans Atta Mills’ tenures, Ghana was firmly engrained on this path to success with the construction of regional hospitals, roads, markets, schools, airports, housing projects, interchanges, water expansions, rural electrification and energy investments such as the AMERI Power plant and the Karpowership plant. The infrastructural gap in this country was intentionally narrowed by H.E. John Mahama with the aim of achieving the “take-off” status needed for national development.

Then, unfortunately for Ghanaians, “disaster struck the land”, a group of
desperate, greedy individuals masquerading as a political party with a clueless
candidate came along with their lies and deceptions and successfully deceived
Ghanaians that they had something better to offer.

They accused H.E. John Mahama and the NDC of over-borrowing, without reference to the massive infrastructural projects across the length and breadth of the country. The national debt stock was GHC 122 billion by December 2016. Almost eight years after winning power through lies, the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government has increased the national debt stock to GHC 700 billion with nothing to show apart from the politically motivated, haphazardly introduced Free Senior High School, which has cost less than GHC 20 billion since its inception.

The NPP and Akufo-Addo, while in opposition, mounted platforms, complained about the exchange rate being $.1 to GHC. 2, and promised to bring it down. Today $1 is to GHC 14, and they complained about a ball of Kenkey selling at GHC1, today it is GHC.5, under the presidency of Akufo-Addo and Bawumia.

A bag of cement was selling at GHC 20 in 2016 but GHC 85 today, a gallon of
diesel was GHC 18 in 2016, and today a litre is selling at GHC 16.60; therefore, a gallon is GHC 61.42 (from GHC 18 IN 2016 to 61.42 in 2024) under the so-called
competent team. The debt to GDP was 54 % in 2016 and was vehemently criticised as a sign of incompetence on the part of H.E. John Mahama. Today, it is 104% under President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

On corruption, the NDC has performed far better than the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government. According to Transparency International’s released corruption perception index (CPI), the NDC’s worst performance is 43, which is better than the NPP’s best performance of 41.

They accused former President Mahama of excessively taxing Ghanaians and
promised to shift the country from taxation to production; however, after
After winning the 2016 elections, the NPP increased the same taxes they were fighting against and even tried to introduce VAT on domestic electricity consumption. They have gone ahead and introduced the most bizarre form of taxation called E-Levy. This is a policy that taxes money in the pockets of the masses.

After eight years under this Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government, pensioners are
denied their monthly stipends that sustain them, under the Domestic Debt
Exchange Program (DDEP), which was caused by the government’s ineptitude
and incompetence as far as managing the economy is concerned.

Today, inflation is at a record high, unemployment is at 14%, and the interest rate is at a massive 31%. Freedom of speech has plummeted under this government.
Traditional rulers have been reduced to subjects, and morals in the country at an all-time low after eight years of this nepotistic and vindictive Akufo-Addo Bawumia government.

Clearly, the last eight years have been nothing but wasted years; no sector of
the country has developed. Nothing has improved except the individual bank
accounts of the appointees of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.

Government lands are being stolen with impunity. This country has been taken
back to about three decades.

The worst aspect of this unfortunate spectacle is the government’s “crime of
denial”. There is no sense of responsibility, no admission of guilt; they blame
everyone and everything but themselves.

Instead of shouting “fixing the mess,” they are disrespectfully and arrogantly
shouting “breaking the eight”. It is obvious that the current government and
its appointees have zilch of respect for Ghanaians; if they did, they would have
lowered their voices and at least rendered apologies for their unprecedented
monumental economic mess.