‘All Ghanaians, including children, owe GH ¢ 9,000 under Akufo-Addo,’ says Mahama

General news for Friday, October 30, 2020

Source: FM class

2020-10-30

The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has expressed concern about the increase in debt under the Akufo-Addo regime.

Addressing Kakasunaka residents in the Kpone Katamanso constituency on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 as part of his campaign tour of the Greater Accra region, Mahama said the government has borrowed GH ¢ 157 billion since the year 2017, thus increasing the debt / GDP ratio. to an unprecedented 76.7 percent.

“The recommended debt-to-GDP profile for a middle-income country is that we should not have debt to GDP greater than 60%. If you go over 60 percent and hit 70 percent or more, you are getting heavily in debt, which is the same as HIPC.

“If we take that debt and divide it among all Ghanaians, including children, everyone owes almost GH ¢ 9,000,” he said.

Mahama was stunned by the rise in the national debt despite attacks on his mandate and promises by the then-opposition New Patriotic Party (PNP) that he was able to develop the country without loans.

He said that when the NPP was in opposition, it created the impression that Ghanaians were sitting with money but were hungry as a result of the policies of the Mahama administration.

“But today we are hungrier than in 2016. How many people can eat three full meals a day today? And the question you ask is, where is the money, GH ¢ 157 billion, what have you done with it? Show us, ”he said.

Mahama said his government developed the country with the ¢ 56 billion it borrowed, adding that evidence can be seen across the country that his government invested in roads, school blocks, hospitals, water expansion projects and energy, among others.

However, the NDC presidential candidate said that the moment of accountability is near and that December 7, 2020 is the opportune time for Ghanaians to make the right decision by voting for the NDC to win the elections and create opportunity and prosperity for all.

Mahama said, among others, that the next NDC government will focus on job creation, the implementation of free primary healthcare to ensure universal access to healthcare, the implementation of Free Technical and Vocational Education and Training (T- VET), as well as a state-sponsored national program. learning program.