In a scathing response to President John Mahama’s accusations over the state of economy inherited, Sammi Awuku, Member of Parliament for Akuapem North Constituency, has blasted the President for his comments.
Sammi Awuku’s reaction came after President Mahama on Thursday presented his State of the Nation Address in Parliament, where he claimed that the Akufo-Addo-led government handed over a “criminal economy” to him.
President Mahama stated, “We all knew the economy was in crisis, but some of the things I am uncovering myself have been a criminal mishandling of our economy. Ghana is now a crime scene.”
He further expressed his shock at the state of the economy, saying, “How can a government be so reckless? I cannot understand.”
In response, Sammi Awuku questioned President John Mahama’s understanding of the economy, asking, “As a criminal, what are your impressions on the state of the economy?”
He then highlighted the achievements of the previous government, stating, “A criminal economy was able to still employ hundreds and thousands and millions of people. A criminal economy was still able to keep our lights on. A criminal economy was still able to pay our nurses and teacher training allowances.”
Sammi Awuku further emphasized that every government leaves arrears, saying, “A criminal, well, arrears does not mean it won’t be paid. Every government will come and leave arrears. Even by the time you hand over, people have started working from 1st January”.
“So you still have arrears to pay.” He concluded by saying, “A criminal economy was still able to sustain economic development. A criminal economy was able to ensure that indeed the Ghanaian young people had an opportunity in the exercise of their constitutional right, the right to work, the right to economic empowerment and freedom,” he fired back.
The exchange between Sammi Awuku and President John Mahama highlights the ongoing debate over the state of Ghana’s economy.
While President John Mahama has accused the previous government of mishandling the economy, Sammi Awuku and other members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have defended their record, pointing to achievements such as employment creation and infrastructure development.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
