Former President John Mahama has challenged Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to address the pressing economic issues bedeviling Ghana at the moment. At a recent press conference he addressed, Mahama mentioned five key questions that he said would help the opposition get what the government was planning to do in the way of arresting these depressed economic fortunes that have hit most Ghanaians.
Mahama, who was Head of State from 2012 to 2017, said he was worried over increased inflation, coupled with the rate of unemployment going high, and the cedi nose-diving, which has made living in the country unbearable for the populace. He urged the need for more transparency and accountability from the current administration, especially as the country moves through these difficult times.
The five questions from Mahama include:
1. What short-term measures is the government embarking on to stabilize the cedi, as well as keep inflation in check?
2. Since youth unemployment is an issue of grave concern, what are the plans of the ruling government to address this situation?
3. What steps are being taken to ensure that essential goods remain affordable for the average Ghanaian?
4. What strategy has been put in place by the government to woo foreign investment into the country in the current economic climate?
5. What are the plans of the government in respect to the rise in public debt and its implications on economic growth within the near future?
He called the current administration to task for what he said was the absence of an articulated, clear-cut direction as far as economic management is concerned and further failing to engage the population on this issue. He wants Bawumia, a former economist with the Central Bank and one who has always boasted of being brilliant about how to manage the economy, to give clear and actionable responses.
With the deafening silence from government officials over Mahama's demands, that has raised other questions concerning their interest in transparency. Economic and political analysts indicate that the public deserves clarity on the government's policies, especially as the country is inching towards crucial elections.
When the economy is battered day in, day out, and citizens begin to wrestle with it, the government is also pressed to answer what transpires. Poked by Mahama with incisive questions, discussions on various platforms followed as many Ghanaians took to echoing his call for accountability.
The politics are heating up in Ghana, with the two major parties limbering up for the looming elections. Economic performance could make or break this election. As this debate unfolds, the all-important question will be, what happens when the Bawumia administration responds to these pressing issues and reassures the public with a clear path ahead amid growing economic challenges?.
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