Former President John Mahama has taken aim at the economic managers of the country saying the coronavirus pandemic has exposed their “propaganda” about the health of the economy.
According to him, it was possible salaries of public sector workers would not have been paid in the next few months if government did not seek support from the IMF.
Responding to questions during his maiden ‘Digital Conversation’ Thursday, the NDC flagbearer said the economy is on ventilators.
“In reflecting on this question, this is one of the issues that we have continuously talked about that it is always necessary that 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,” he said.
Mr Mahama also charged administrators of government’s COVID-19 Trust Fund to keep receipts of expenditure because a day of reckoning will come.
Mr. Mahama made the comment while responding to a question in his maiden digital conversation Thursday night.
“I don’t think I need to become President before we demand accountability. All those spending the COVID-19 money should be keeping the receipts because the day of accountability is fast approaching,” he said.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh
