The Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Anthony Akoto Osei has described as unfounded, claims by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) mismanaged the economy when it was in office.
The NDC at a press conference dubbed, “setting the records straight” to counter the NPP’s recent “Promises Made, Promises Broken, Promises Repeated” media encounter, said Ghana’s economy saw an impressive performance under the John Attah-Mills – John Mahama administration against the poor performance by the NPP’s John Kufuor.
Addressing the press, Minister of Transport, Fifi Kwetey, said in spite of the many financial resources that was available to the NPP, it was unable to ensure a significant growth in terms of infrastructure development.
“From 2001 to 2008, the NPP accumulated a total debt stock 56.9billion cedis, taking it from 9.7billion cedis in 2008. NPP therefore had access to 4.3 times more loan financing than NDC 1 under Jerry Rawlings. In spite of this, the NDC 1 overshadows the NPP in virtually all critical development infrastructure.”
“NDC built 3 regional hospitals against zero by the non-performing NPP. NDC within that period, can also boast of a couple of public universities against zero by the NPP,” he added.
But Dr Akoto Osei in a sharp rebuttal on Good Evening Ghana dismissed these claims.
According to him, it is rather the NDC that has nothing positive to show for the management of the country’s economy under the Mills and the Mahama administration.
Giving examples to support his claim, the Old Tafo MP revealed that some contractors who embarked on various governmental projects for the NDC have still not been paid.
The situation, according to him, has compelled the contractors to borrow from some banks which in his view is collapsing the banking system.
“When you don’t pay contractors, there is arrears. These contractors have gone to borrow from the banking system. They are collapsing the banking system so it is showing as debt in the banking system. That is a serious problem…You don’t present the budget statement and say you cannot find 1.7 billion. It will show up somewhere.”
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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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