Former Minister of state at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning under the NPP, Dr. Akoto Osei, has attributed current economic hardships to the over expenditure of the government in 2012 and the quick implementation of the single spine salary structure. Speaking on Joy News Current Affairs Program, PM EXPRESS, he gave other reasons for his assertion that the economy is in a bad state. He said, “We have to admit, unfortunately that the 2012 expenditure was a bit more than has been historically. Some people say that in every election year there is an over expenditure but in 2004 it was not so” According to the former minister of state at the finance ministry, the expenditure was illegal because it is against the appropriation act.