
Audio By Carbonatix
Minority in Parliament, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has accused Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, of being untruthful and inconsistent in his presentations on the Ghanaian economy.Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority leader, at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday said: “He has been consistently providing falsehoods and half-truths when it suits him. He is an honourable man and we want to advise him to be honourable about the information he gives.”The Minority leader, who was reacting to government’s supplementary budget recently presented to Parliament by the Minister, said the financial statement is not only misleading but it is creating the impression that the NPP administration performed badly, regarding the country’s economy.Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the use of words such as “run-down economy and poor economic managements” which the Minister used in both his March and Mid-year review and supplementary budgets presentations demonstrates that the Minister had a hidden agenda against the NPP administration, particularly when he was the Governor of Bank of Ghana at the time.The Minority leader wondered why the Minister should continue hyping the fact that the NPP administration run-down the economy when all indications are clear that the NPP performed better in terms of head-to-head.He said “In 2000, when the NDC government was leaving office, the total debt to GDP ratio stood at 186 %, meaning that we needed almost two times our national income to pay off all our debts, but in 2008 when the NPP government was about to leave office, the total debt to GDP ratio stood at only 46 %, meaning we needed less than one-half of our income to pay off all our debts”.Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu added that in 2000, real terms economic growth was 3.7 %, but rose to 7.3% as at the time the NPP was leaving office while per capita income in 2000 stood at $290 as compared $720 as at the time NPP government was leaving office.The Minority leader who is also the Member of Parliament for Suame, said the Economic Minister is being hypocritical by presenting the true picture of the economy to IMF and World Bank and yet presenting a different picture to Parliament and to all Ghanaians.Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said “The question Ghanaians want the Minister to answer is which information about the state of the economy is correct; the one he characterizes as ‘run-down’ or the one he described in his June 2009 letter to the IMF?“Clearly, we know he cannot lie to the IMF, because the sanctions will be most severe as occurred in 2001, when Ghana was made to pay back almost $34 million as a result of NDC government’s misreporting on our external debt in 2000”, he noted.He said the NDC government’s claim that it has put the economy back on track is not convincing, as arrears amounting to GH¢139.2 million is at hand with GH¢10 million of the District Assemblies Common fund in arrears and GH¢25.5 in arrears for Ghana Education Trust Fund (GET fund).Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called on the Minister to present issues as they are and stop using political language in his presentations as such political language and falsehoods could create negative impact on the country’s reputation.Source: GNA
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
NPP revises internal election guidelines to strengthen transparency and inclusiveness
28 minutes -
NACOC set to issue licences to qualified applicants for cannabis cultivation – Deputy Director-General
36 minutes -
Easter Outreach: Victory Bible Church offers free healthcare, NHIS support to hundreds
39 minutes -
NPP cannot pressure Mahama to sign a bill not yet received—Solomon Owusu
48 minutes -
MPs, institutions deepen support for Ghana Sports Fund with fresh contributions
55 minutes -
Four people die trying to board boat in Channel crossing attempt
1 hour -
Abirem MP announces GH₵500,000 education fund to support needy students
1 hour -
African stakeholders call for stronger ‘One Health’ action on climate and health crises
1 hour -
DVLA to commission 5 new service centres in Greater Accra
1 hour -
Agenda 111 and the right to health: A broken social contract
1 hour -
Bawa-Rock Ltd funds GH¢400,000 free surgeries for 102 vulnerable patients
1 hour -
Lambussie MP awards over GH¢200,000 in scholarships to students
1 hour -
Vice President expresses gratitude after double enstoolment in Volta Region
1 hour -
Beyond the Noise: Rebuilding trust in journalism in a digital age
1 hour -
I have to follow the law – CAF president tells Senegal regarding AFCON saga
1 hour