A flagbearer aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo Addo, has rubbished assertions made by President John Dramani Mahama that the country’s long-term prospects remain bright despite continuing economic challenges.
Nana Addo, who was speaking to delegates of the NPP in the Western region ahead of the party’s National congress on Sunday, said that the government’s inability to deal with the current economic problems will “compromise the county’s future prospects.”
The depreciating Cedi has stabilised in recent weeks, and currently appreciating against the major currencies after after depreciating up to 40%, leading to suggestions that the economy may be turning the corner.
The government has also said that an IMF bailout programme, set to be rolled out in January, will help stabilise the country’s economy further.
But speaking at the Odwira festival at Akropong-Akuapem on Friday, President Mahama had expressed optimism about the long-term-prospects of the country’s economy.
However, Nana Addo told the NPP delegates: “At Akropong, the president told us that the problems we are having today are short-term but the medium and long-term prospects are still very bright. Well Mr. President what we will say to you is this, if we cannot deal with the short term problems, it will compromise our medium and long term future. They will no longer be bright,” he said.
He had earlier criticised President Mahama’s “corrupt” administration while addressing delegates in the Ashanti Region, stating that an NPP government under his leadership will fight corruption and invest in economic growth to create jobs for the youth.
The two-time Presidential candidate for the NPP is regarded as one of the favourites to be elected as the party’s flagbearer for the 2016 elections after he polled over 80% of votes in the Super Delegates Congress in August.
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana