SONA: ‘Ghana Is Not Broke’ – Prez Akufo-Addo Replies Mahama
Outgoing President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has refuted claims by his successor, John Dramani Mahama, that he (Akufo-Addo) is handing over a broke economy to him.
John Dramani Mahama, the President-elect, has been accusing Nana Addo of mismanaging the economy and plunging it in debts, hence describing the current administration as setting a “trap” for him.
He complains of huge debts in the education and energy sectors among others.
According to him, President Akufo-Addo is leaving him with a $2.5 billion debt in the energy sector.
“The energy sector is another area which the outgoing administration has mismanaged in a major way…they have kept the lights at the expense of accruing a huge debt; that debt is being audited and so far we are looking at $2.5 billion”, he remarked.
About the health sector, President-elect John Mahama shares similar concerns as he claims the incumbent government’s “Agenda 111” has overburdened the sector.
But the President has set the record straight in his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered today in Parliament.
President Akufo-Addo, while delivering his speech, exclaimed that Ghana is not broke, stressing he has left a better economy to the incoming President.
“Mr. Speaker, the country is not broke as some propagandists want us to believe. We are handing over the country with gross international reserves of almost 8 billion USD. This is more than the $6.2 billion of gross international reserves my administration inherited in 2017.
“Economic growth has also returned to the pre-COVID trajectory with impressive growth rate rising from 4.8% in the first quarter of 2024, 7% in the second quarter and 7.2% in the third quarter. It is projected that this year’s growth rate will be 6.3% significantly higher than the 3.4% my administration inherited in 2017”, the President established the facts.
SONA
Following the SONA, the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic will officially be dissolved on Monday, January 6, 2025, marking the end of the current legislature.
The dissolution will pave the way for the inauguration of the 9th Parliament.
“The 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic will stand dissolved on Monday, 6th January, 2025. The 9th Parliament will reconvene on the same day at 11pm for the election of the Speaker and two Deputy Speakers. The Speaker-elect and members-elect will be sworn in at midnight”, according to a statement issued by Parliament.
Watch video:
Source: Ghmessenger.com
