Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has sharply criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. He accused the NPP of causing widespread hardship and pushing Ghana’s economy into a deep decline.
During the launch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto in Winneba, Dr. Forson expressed his concern over the heavy tax burdens placed on businesses and individuals, which he believes have significantly contributed to Ghana’s economic downturn.
He highlighted a key point of concern: in 2022, Ghana lost its position as the second-largest economy in West Africa to Côte d’Ivoire. At that time, Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was $72 billion, while Côte d’Ivoire’s GDP was $75 billion.
Dr. Forson blamed this decline on what he described as the NPP’s mismanagement of the economy. He announced that if the NDC is voted into power, they will implement a $10 billion “Big Push” initiative aimed at reviving economic growth and driving transformative development.
He emphasized that this plan would help reverse the current economic decline and restore Ghana’s progress.
In his criticism of the NPP, Dr. Forson accused the government of collapsing the cocoa sector, squandering public funds, undermining good governance, and reversing the nation’s advancements.
He also condemned the administration for imposing what he described as “crude and painful haircuts” across various sectors, corrupting the country’s moral values, and pursuing a state capture agenda through a scheme he referred to as “Agyapadie.”
Dr. Forson provided a stark comparison of the economy’s past and present, noting that in 2016, Ghana’s economy was valued at 55 billion Ghana cedis, making it the second-largest in West Africa, while Côte d’Ivoire’s economy was valued at 48 billion Ghana cedis. However, by 2022, Côte d’Ivoire had surpassed Ghana.
He warned that this situation is expected to worsen by the end of the year, with Côte d’Ivoire’s GDP projected to reach $89 billion, while Ghana’s GDP is estimated to be $75 billion.
To address this, the NDC plans to introduce the “Big Push” initiative to bring the necessary focus and investment for economic recovery and transformation.
Dr. Forson concluded by stating that the NPP has failed the country, leading to the destruction of livelihoods, the collapse of vital sectors like cocoa, and the erosion of good governance.
He urged Ghanaians to come together to restore and reset the country’s course.
