Former President John Mahama has advised President Akufo-Addo to do the needful and fire his incompetent Ministers, including the corruption scandal-prone Ken Ofori-Atta at the Finance Ministry.
According to him, this would be a good first step towards much-needed fiscal discipline which, if not pursued could result in Ghana becoming “entirely broke like Sri Lanka.”
“He should conduct a major shakeup of his government to remove all the many dead woods that have turned the ministries into their kingdoms. Finally, he should huddle with the best brains of this country to formulate a comprehensive recovery plan for our economy,” he added.
Mr. Mahama gave the unsolicited advice while speaking at the launch of a think tank – called “Think Progress Ghana,” in Accra.
Many have observed that amidst the Akufo-Addo government’s incompetence, the President, has for some reason not reshuffled his Ministers since the beginning of his second tenure in 2021.
“President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Head of the Economic Management Team, rather appallingly, remain nonchalant in the face of this serious crisis and have limited their response to the imposition of very harsh and regressive tax measures, one of which is the E-Levy, which has been roundly rejected by the people of Ghana,” Mr. Mahama said.
He suggested that President Akufo-Addo should immediately, among other measures, dismiss the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, because he has failed the country.
The former president expressed wonderment at the government over its carefree attitude in spite of poor ratings by the rating agencies, Moodys and Fitch.
Rather, he said the government has “resorted to unhelpful political posturing over suggestions on how to stem the downward spiral, ensure discipline, and help the economy recover.”
“Like one drowning and yet clutching at a mere straw to stay afloat, this government has banked all its hopes on the E-Levy, which, given the gravity and depth of the problems that have beset our economy, is neither adequate nor viable as a sustainable response to the crisis,” he said.