The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has accused the government of using propaganda to dilute the severity of the economic crisis in the country.

According to the MFWA boss, government has resorted to PR tactics to cover the harsh realities facing Ghanaians, when citizens are actually suffering.

Speaking in an interview with Benjamin Akakpo on the AM Show, Mr Braimah acknowledged that the current economic challenges have been influenced by the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

He however blamed the government for the worsening situation in Ghana, and criticised the use of propaganda in addressing the situation.

"I think that we're in a deep crisis even though for purposes of propaganda and PR, the government continues to say that we have is a challenge and not a crisis. But we're certainly in a very very deep crisis and what is going on is at this stage, nothing but something that should be attributed to the poor governance, poor leadership [and] incompetence on the part of our leaders", he said.

The comments by Sulemana Braimah come at a time the country is experiencing fiscal difficulties and a host of other economic challenges.

The country’s inflation rate for September hit 37.2%; the highest in the last decade. This is against the 33.9% recorded in August 2022.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, five groups recorded inflation rates higher than the national average in September.

They were Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other fuels (68.8%); Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance (51.1%); Transport (48.6%); Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (42.6%) as well as Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (37.8%).

The implementation of the utility tariff in September 2022 also influenced the surge in inflation in Housing, Water, Electricity and other Fuels group.

This situation has therefore compelled citizens to accentuate their calls for government to address the situation.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta is in talks with the International Monetary Fund to agree on mutual terms in a proposed IMF bailout request by Ghana.

According to government, it is hopeful of a favourable agreement with the IMF, that will help put the country’s economy on a sound footing.