The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has blamed Ghana’s recent economic downturn on what he described as fiscal indiscipline under the former Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
Addressing journalists at the Africa-Singapore Business Forum on Monday, August 25, he argued that overspending by the previous government significantly contributed to the country’s financial crisis.
“One of the problems that precipitated the economic decline in the very recent past under the NPP was fiscal indiscipline, the tendency to live outside of our means and spend more than we earn,” he stated.
He contrasted the Mahama administration with its predecessor, stressing that the current government has been prudent with expenditure and is focusing on essential investments.
“We are not spending beyond our means, we are not spending lavishly. We are spending on critical sectors,” he emphasised.
Citing cost-saving measures, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu pointed to the lean ministerial delegation that travelled to Singapore as part of the forum.
“Look at the delegation that came here, they are just 3 or 4 ministers of state. But if I show you the delegations that followed President Akufo-Addo around when he travels, you’d be amazed. All of these adds up to the cost of running government,” he added.