The National Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagba, believes former President Mahama’s economic address is “outmoded at birth.”
According to him, the entire 39-page address by the one-time President was just a reiteration of the issues Akufo-Addo’s government is already fixing.
In a post seen by Modernghana News on Friday, October 28, he stated “39 pages of little. Nothing new was said. We are fixing the problem.”
On Thursday, October 27, at the UPSA auditorium in Accra, former President John Dramani Mahama delivered a speech dubbed, “Building the Ghana we want”
Proffering solutions to the ailing economy, the former President believes that Ghana can rise again with the support of Ghanaians.
In portions of his speech, he appealed to the general public to go for locally produced goods over foreign ones.
He applauded a section of the citizens who find delight in eating gob3 (gari mixed with beans and oil), yam, local grains, and others. He said the consumption of locally produced items will help reduce the amount Ghana spends on importation.
He argued that doing so would not only boost the local market but also stimulate the entire economy.
“A good way to start will be to regulate and minimize our expenditure by sticking to only the things that we really need. As much as possible, we need to acquire and sustain a taste and preference for locally manufactured products.
“If we must buy consumables or food products, let us choose that rice or chicken that is produced locally so that it doesn’t become necessary to find millions of dollars to import the same items,” the former President asserted
He stressed, “Let us consciously eat more of our local foods like yam, and local grains. cassava, beans, local fruits, and vegetables. That way, we reduce demand for foreign currency, reduce the pressure on our currency and boost domestic production to create a win-win situation.”
Also, the 2020 NDC Presidential candidate noted that the ailing economy can bounce back if the huge budget allocation to the presidency is reduced.
“Expenditure rationalisation, to be successful, must first start in the President’s office. Substantial savings of GH¢ 1 billion or more can be made by slashing the budget of the Office of government machinery,” he said.
Source: Modern Ghana
Add Comment