We’re tackling a complex global problem, not the local one you created – Oppong Nkrumah to Mahama

We’re tackling a complex global problem, not the local one you created – Oppong Nkrumah to Mahama

The Akufo-Addo government has said it will not be sidetracked by what it deems as former President John Mahama’s continuous invitation to dabble in partisan politics with the COVID-19 situation.

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said on Monday, 27 April 2020 that honouring such invitation would mean losing focus on the fight against a “very complex global problem” being confronted by President Akufo-Addo.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah was reacting to recent comments by the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the economy, which the government has always touted as resilient, was now in “ICU” with just a little more than a month after COVID-19 hit home.

In a Facebook Live session on Thursday, April 23 2020, dubbed: ‘John Mahama in a Digital Conversation’, the former President said this about the economy: “… It is always necessary when you are building an economy to have enough buffers and create fiscal space so that when you are faced with a shock or adversity, you are easily able to overcome it”.

“Unfortunately, this government has used a lot of propaganda saying the economy has been the best that we have ever had since independence. Unfortunately, just one month of coronavirus, the economy is in ICU. If we didn’t run to the IMF for the one billion rapid credit facility, it is possible that in the next month, probably, salaries would not have been paid and, so, our economy is on ventilators, and it needs thinking to rescue it from the ICU”.

Even though Mr Oppong Nkrumah, in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM’s Bernard Avle on Monday, 27 April 2020 declined what he described as an “invitation” to wallow in the political sludge with Mr Mahama, he nonetheless gave some response or sort.