Ex-Deputy Finance Minister Prof Gyan Baffour has rubbished figures in a Supplementary Budget Statement and general conclusions of Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffour on the state of the economy, presented to Parliament on Tuesday, saying they do not reflect the true state of the economy. “The minister is portraying the situation as if all is rosy in the economy at this point but the public can be the judges. They all know what is happening which is not in line with what he is saying,” Prof Baffuor said, in comments he made during an interview with journalists from Citi FM. The Minister touted what he says were modest macro economic gains made in the eight months old administration of President Mills, citing a let-up in inflation and a relatively stable currency. But the ex-deputy Finance Minister said all those are nothing but a façade. “Inflation I’m told is down but people are unable to buy three square meals. He is saying the depreciation of the cedi is slowing down, but as I speak, it is selling at about 1.5 (GH¢1.50) per dollar which was only about 1.1 (GH¢1.10) before December. “I think it’s like somebody just came outside, not of this planet, Ghana, talking about some other economy somewhere. I don’t think it is a fair representation of the economy,” he mocked. He accused the government of stagnating the economy in its bid to cut back on the budget deficit, saying, “You can achieve deficit if you don’t spend.” Prof Baffour took a swipe at the Finance Minister for accusing the NPP of recklessly managing the economy. “If he did say that, it is also a reckless statement. If you spend money in building roads, its not reckless. If you spend money in trying to get school feeding for children, it is not reckless. If you spend money in ensuring that people have access to health care, it is not reckless. It is something that is needed to be done.” He said government has aborted all development projects started by the NPP, particularly in road infrastructure, in order to meet set economic targets. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana