Shameful Naysayers, Bailout Is In

Professor Bokpin

 

Certain characteristics have emerged among opposition politicians and their cohorts in the country.

The worrying trend has exposed some of these people as enemies of the state so long as their party is not in the saddle in the conduct of national affairs.

Can anyone imagine that while the entire nation waited with bated breath for the release of the second tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, some of our compatriots were heard on radio, television and social media “celebrating” perceived refusal of the creditor nations to give the green light for the money.

To this people, nothing good should happen under the watch of the Akufo-Addo government so that they can have issues against the NPP during the run-up to the December 7, 2024 polls.

What is even more worrying is that some commentators and economic analysts as well as journalists have joined forces with the NDC to paint a very gloomy picture of the economy and general conditions in the country.

As for the NDC, we can grant them the kind of politics it wants to engage in to secure their regime change, but for professionals to join the John Mahama bandwagon for regime change sounds preposterous. The radio and television stations as well as their journalists we used to regard as professionals who upheld high journalistic standards have become very partisan in their outlook and orientation.

Prior to the release of the $600 million second tranche by the IMF,  Professor Bokpin was very skeptical about the possibility of meeting the IMF’s conditions, but instead of swallowing  his pride, he again attempted some analysis of our situation.

We don’t need soothsayers to tell us we are still in difficult times, but the IMF bailout would give us the breathing space to completely turn the corner.

That is why the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and his management team must do things differently going forward to make the economy more productive. We need an economy that is more productive instead of the present situation where the implementation of an unbridled liberalisation system that offers the business community the leeway to import everything.

This policy is not helping to stabilise the economy and strengthen the cedi against all major currencies as well as bring the prices of petroleum products to manageable limits. While efforts are being made to stabilise the economy, the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah should lead the onslaught to communicate the government’s programmes and policies as well as the achievements to kill the information drought. This way the people would get to know the numerous successes chalked up by the government to change Ghana’s narratives in the comity of nations.

We have bemoaned the lack of the strategy by government and NPP communicators to derail the NDC propaganda. The appointees are in their comfort zones, especially when President Akufo-Addo has refused to crack the whip. The MMDCEs and chief executives of parastatals don’t feel any obligation to communicate or engage the people to tell them what the government has done.

In terms of achievements, the Akufo-Addo government has no match in the Fourth Republic but we tell you, Nana Akufo-Addo has lit a lamp and hidden it under the bed. What has John Mahama got to offer the people of Ghana? Already, he is tired and sees the Presidency as a place for rest, and that is why he is appealing to the people to give him permission for honeymoon.

 

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