The Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo have been urged by the Minority Caucus in Parliament to assume full accountability for the country's current economic difficulties.
They said that the government's reckless and irresponsible borrowing, together with unjustifiable extravagant spending, were to blame for the country's need for a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
"President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia should accept full responsibility for the poor management of the economy and oppressive debt levels that have required the retreat for us to negotiate an agreement with the IMF for the restructuring of the country's debt," it continued.
The decision was made by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu during a press conference in Parliament. A high-level IMF mission arrived in the nation Tuesday to begin talks with the administration about ways to help the country overcome its economic difficulties.
Yesterday in Accra, the face-to-face discussions with the government got under way.
Decision
The Minority Leader stated that on July 1, 2022, President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia, the head of the Economic Management Team, reversed their former position and indicated that the government wanted to work with the IMF to help the nation through its economic troubles.
He criticised the government's actions as being juvenile and pleaded with them "to halt any attempt to transfer blame."
He suggested that the government practise fiscal restraint by cutting spending, especially on social intervention programmes.
E-levy
Regarding the electronic transfer levy (E-levy), Mr. Iddrisu stated that it continued to be an unpopular tax measure and added that just because the E-levy Bill was approved by Parliament did not imply that the Minority supported it.
In many places, it won't pass constitutional muster, he added. "We rejected it because it was unpopular; we rejected it because it was much of a double taxation."
The Tamale South MP continued by saying that the arrogant attitude of the administration to not seek input from other stakeholders was of significant worry to the NDC Minority.
"They obstinately rejected every sensible and helpful recommendation we and other reputable experts and people made in an effort to strengthen the economy.
What they need to accept is that the days of opposition are ended after the voters chose a hung parliament, he added.