A former Deputy Finance Minister, Fifi Kwetey, has challenged the ruling government to compare and honestly assess its achievements against that of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Wading into the debate on the performance of the local economy under the New Patriotic Party (NPP), he said managing the country’s growth and development cannot be reduced to mere words and slogans but proper accountability.

Speaking on The Pulse on Thursday, he argued that the NDC ensured effective delivery and implementation of its key policies and programmes, unlike the “noise” NPP keeps making.

“What we have is basically a group [NPP] that believes that managing an economy is all about blowing trumpets, using slogans and throwing about words and proclaiming magical solutions when in reality it is the opposite.

“Ours [NDC] was a group that was absolutely not making noise but was delivering, compare the records,” he said.

He spoke in reaction to a national address on the economy which was delivered by the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the Central Region.

The Vice President said the country is “on the right path,” adding that “with sound policies to enhance growth, fiscal and monetary discipline, and by the grace of God, we are bouncing back better and stronger.”

“We must celebrate our achievements, big and small and not seek to tarnish or belittle them for the sake of politics. I look forward to all of you doing your part in making our nation great and strong,” he added.

The Finance Ministry and other government officials have attributed Ghana’s economic downturn and slow growth rate to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent Russia-Ukraine crisis.

This has been disputed by the NDC and other bodies as they state that the economy was already in a mess before the outbreak of those two issues.

The former Ketu South Member of Parliament reacted by stating that hiding under the guise of the pandemic smacks of dishonesty.

He added that government must admit the shortcomings as the first step towards addressing the problems.