The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has defended the government’s economic performance while sharply criticising the state of the economy inherited from the previous administration.

His comments followed President John Dramani Mahama’s 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Friday.

In an interview with Joy Business’s George Wiafe, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said the prior government “did monumental damage to the Ghanaian economy,” citing high inflation, debt levels, and exchange rate instability.

“Everything was bad. Why is an inflation of 23% good? In any event, who took it to 54%? They did monumental damage to the Ghanaian economy and then reluctantly went to the IMF in an ambulance when they were limping,” he said.

The Minister described the IMF intervention under the former administration as a reluctant measure, noting that key fiscal benchmarks were missed, including primary balance and deficit targets.

“They missed some of the key targets and benchmarks that the IMF set. They missed their targets on a primary balance, they missed their targets on deficits and other such indicators. So the economy we inherited was not good,” he said.

He highlighted the economic indicators at the time, noting that the US dollar exchange rate stood at around GH¢15 per dollar, inflation was 23%, and national debt exceeded GH¢700 billion.

“There was no indicator that you could say was in good shape,” he said.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu emphasised that the current administration’s adherence to fiscal discipline has stabilised the economy and delivered tangible improvements to the lives of ordinary Ghanaians.

“We have come in, adhered to the principles of fiscal discipline which they lacked — that was the fundamental problem they faced. We have improved upon the situation and it has led to a situation where those improvements have translated into the lives of the people of Ghana,” he stated.