Oppong Nkrumah jabs Mahama over ‘economy on ventilators’ comment

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has taken a dig at the NDC’s flagbearer John Mahama over a comment he made likening the economy to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The former president in a live video interaction said despite the propaganda used to tout the economy, it is on ventilators barely a month after being hit with Covid-19.

“They said the economy has been the best that we have ever had since independence,” Mahama recounted.

He added, “a leading member of this government told us the economy was so robust…that for three months if anything happens to us, we would be able to survive.”

“We have not been able to survive even one month,” the ex-president jabbed, adding “if we didn’t run to the IMF for the $1billion rapid credit facility, it is possible that in the next two months probably, salaries would not have been paid,” Mahama said.

But replying to the NDC leader, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, at a press conference on Tuesday, cited the challenge the Mahama administration faced with an erratic supply of power for some three years.

“An economy that can’t keep the lights on will not be able to afford a ventilator let alone to keep it functioning to save lives, the Ofoase-Ayirebi MP said.

Responding to other critics who are skeptical about recent promises of President Akufo-Addo to build 88 new hospitals in a year, Oppong Nkrumah said the administration has restored confidence in the economy which guarantees that the targets can be met.

“We have come far as a country on a more serious note, building a strong economic base to fund all that we are doing,” he added.

International rating firm, Moody’s has, meanwhile, downgraded Ghana’s economic outlook to negative, from positive.

Moody’s said, “the decision to change the outlook to negative reflects the rising risks, ultimately emanating from the coronavirus outbreak to Ghana’s funding and debt service, with financing beyond immediate official creditor emergency support looking increasingly vulnerable.”

The government has not officially spoken on the Moody’s report.

Source: myjoyonline