Political scientist Dr Asah Asante has criticised former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his recent apology to Ghanaians for the pain caused by the government’s domestic debt restructuring programme, describing it as “too little, too late.”

Speaking on the AM Show, Dr Asante said the policy severely disrupted the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Ghanaians, particularly the middle class, pensioners, and other vulnerable groups, and that an apology at this stage does not reverse the damage done.

“Mr President, your policy shattered our lives. And up to date, we have not been able to put them together,” he said. “When you have shattered our lives and our livelihoods, you can’t bring it back. So I am right in saying that it’s too late to say you are sorry after you’ve shattered our lives.”

Dr Asante was reacting to comments made by the former President during a public engagement, where he acknowledged that the domestic debt exchange programme marked “one of the darkest moments” of his administration and apologised to affected groups.

The political scientist argued that proper consultation and consideration of dissenting views could have prevented the policy from causing such widespread hardship.

“When you introduce a policy, you weigh its effects before you come with it full hog. Some of your lieutenants were saying we either take it or leave it. We saw people on the street who were sick and complaining. We saw pensioners protesting. It fell on deaf ears,” he noted.

Ghana’s debt restructuring programme, introduced under the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2023, was part of a broader effort to secure an IMF bailout and stabilise the economy. However, the move led to significant losses for bondholders and triggered protests from pensioners, labour groups, and financial sector players.

Dr Asante questioned why the former President would apologise now if the policy were believed to be sound at the time of implementation.

“Why apology? If you knew the policy was a good one, why apology?” he asked.