Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko
When Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko tells Ghanaians to give credit to both
the NPP and the current government for “difficult but necessary economic
policies,” one must ask: credit for what — the collapse of the cedi, 50%
inflation, or the IMF bailout after debt default?
This is not the time for political whitewashing.
This is not the time to insult the intelligence and suffering of
ordinary citizens.
Under the Akufo-Addo–Ken Ofori-Atta administration, the Ghanaian economy
did not merely struggle — it broke down.
The Cedi Did Not Just Fall — It Crashed
In 2022/23/24, the cedi became one of the worst-performing currencies in
the world. It lost value against the dollar, the pound, the euro —
everything.
Salaries became useless. Traders shut down. Importers collapsed. Rent
doubled. Transport fares rose weekly.
This was not destiny.
This was not fate.
This was policy failure.
Other African countries faced COVID, Ukraine war, and global inflation —
but Ghana’s collapse was uniquely severe. That tells us the problem was
not only external; it was home-made.
Inflation at Over 50% Is Not “Tough Reform” — It Is Economic Violence
When inflation crosses 50%, it is no longer economics; it is social
punishment.
Families skipped meals. Parents borrowed to survive. Patients died
quietly because medicine was too expensive.
And we are now being told that this was part of some brave economic
strategy?
No.
It was the consequence of reckless borrowing, wasteful spending, and
delayed decision-making.
IMF After “Ghana Beyond Aid” — The Greatest Political U-Turn
The same government that mocked IMF programs, insulted past leaders, and
promised never to return to the Fund, ended up running back to the IMF
after defaulting on our debts.
Then came the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme — where pensioners,
nurses, teachers, and ordinary bondholders were forced to sacrifice
while politicians kept their comforts intact.
Old men and women protested in the streets for their survival.
Is that the “tough but necessary policy” Gabby wants us to celebrate?
Waste, Scandals, and National Priorities Gone Wrong
While Ghanaians tightened their belts:
Millions were sunk into a National Cathedral with no hospital beds
attached to it.
Galamsey destroyed rivers with weak political will to stop it.
COVID expenditure raised serious accountability questions.
Leadership is about priorities. And the priorities were clearly not with
struggling citizens.
Good Policies Cannot Excuse Bad Governance
Yes, Free SHS helped many families.
Yes, 1D1F sounded promising.
But slogans do not pay debts.
Press conferences do not stabilise currencies.
And good social policies cannot cover up catastrophic economic
management.
You cannot crash an economy and then ask for applause because you
applied emergency measures after the damage was already done.
A Message to Gabby and the Political Elite
Ghanaians are tired of political spin.
We remember the queues at banks.
We remember the businesses that collapsed.
We remember the price of kenkey, rice, fuel, and medicine.
So please, spare us the lectures about “shared credit” and “necessary
pain.”
What Ghanaians went through under Akufo-Addo and Ken Ofori-Atta was not
a heroic reform story , it was an avoidable national economic crisis.
History will not be kind to attempts to rewrite that truth.
And if there is any responsibility today, it is for those who caused the
mess to show humility , not to seek applause.
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com