John Dramani Mahama, the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has dismissed the recent apology offered by Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, the newly appointed Finance Minister, regarding the economic hardships caused by the government’s policies. Mahama insists that the responsibility for these hardships lies with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, not the Finance Minister.
During a town hall meeting on August 6, 2024, Dr Amin Adam expressed regret for the difficulties Ghanaians have faced as a result of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). This programme, which aims to restructure the country’s debt by exchanging high-interest short-term debt for lower-interest long-term debt, was implemented to secure an IMF facility. Dr Amin Adam urged Ghanaians to forgive the government, acknowledging the pain caused by the policy but emphasizing its necessity for economic stability.
However, Mahama, speaking at a campaign event in the Volta Region on August 13, 2024, rejected the Finance Minister’s apology, arguing that he should not be the one to take responsibility for the government’s economic policies. Mahama asserted that the real accountability should come from President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia, who have been in charge of the government’s economic management.
“This Finance Minister they just brought yesterday is not responsible for the situation we are in,” Mahama said. “They told him, ‘Go and apologise,’ but we don’t need his apology. The ones who need to apologise are Jack Toronto [referring to President Akufo-Addo] and the head of the Solid Economic Management Team, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.”
Mahama further emphasized that an apology alone would not be enough to address the grievances of Ghanaians. He called for the electorate to vote out the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming elections, stressing that change is necessary to end the suffering inflicted by the current administration’s policies.
“Even if they apologise, Ghanaians should still vote them out,” Mahama urged. “We need change; we cannot continue with more of the same.”
Mahama’s statements highlight the increasing dissatisfaction with the government’s economic policies and underline the importance of the upcoming elections in determining the country’s future.
