Former Finance Minister Dr Mohammed Amin Adam has raised questions regarding President Mahama's comment on the New Patriotic Party's government's handling of the economy.

He challenged claims of a sudden fiscal crisis that has limited public sector wage increases.

In a Facebook, Dr Adam questioned how an economy labelled as “criminally mishandled” could support significant pay increases for public sector workers throughout 2023 and 2024 but now struggles to manage even modest wage adjustments.

“How could an economy described as ‘criminally mishandled’ afford a 30% base pay increase in 2023, followed by 23% from January to June 2024, and 25% from July to December 2024, all while maintaining respectable fiscal deficits?” he asked.

He further pressed, “What has changed between December 2024 and February 2025 that suddenly put the economy in crisis, which cannot afford an adjustment in the base pay above 10%?"

Dr Amin Adam’s comments follow President John Dramani Mahama’s recent comments about the previous administration led by Nana Akufo-Addo. President Mahama, during a National Tripartite Committee meeting at the Ministry of Labour, Jobs, and Employment, condemned the former government's management of the economy.

“We all knew the economy was in crisis, but some of the things I am uncovering myself reveal a criminal mishandling of our economy. Ghana is now a crime scene,” Mahama declared. “How can a government be so reckless? I cannot understand,” he added.

He thus appealed to workers to accept the 10% rise in base pay and anticipate higher increase in public sector wages in the coming year once the economy recovers.