Mahama’s SONA Criticized for Economic Pessimism and Unclear Funding Plans – Abena Osei-Asare Responds
Abena Osei-Asare, the former Minister of State for Finance and Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, has strongly responded to President John Dramani Mahama's recent State of the Nation Address (SONA). In a detailed post shared on social media, Osei-Asare rejected the president’s depiction of Ghana’s economy and defended the economic achievements of the previous government under the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to Osei-Asare, Mahama’s address was a predictable mix of economic pessimism, political blame-shifting, and unsubstantiated populist promises, all without a clear and credible plan for financing them. She expressed her surprise at Mahama’s portrayal of the economy, highlighting the irony of his description of the economy as being in an “intensive care unit,” while simultaneously pushing for massive new social programs without providing any insight into how they would be funded.
Osei-Asare's full response outlines key points regarding Ghana’s economic performance under the NPP government:
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Economic Recovery Under the NPP: A Balanced Perspective
The NPP acknowledges the economic challenges faced by the country but insists that decisive actions were taken to restore stability and growth. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recognized Ghana’s recovery, which was driven by improved performance in key sectors. She pointed to positive growth in the financial sector, including an increase in total banking sector assets and a rise in private sector credit. Furthermore, she emphasized that the NPP administration left substantial resources for the incoming government to meet its early 2025 debt obligations. -
Populist Policies and Fiscal Concerns
Osei-Asare raised concerns over Mahama’s expansionary fiscal policies, which she described as unsustainable and lacking in transparency regarding their funding sources. Despite presenting a bleak economic outlook, Mahama proposed several costly social intervention programs, such as the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, the Feed Ghana Programme, and the One Million Coders Programme, without detailing how these initiatives would be financed. Osei-Asare warned against returning to a high-spending model that contributed to the IMF bailout in 2015. -
National Economic Dialogue: A Political Strategy?
Osei-Asare questioned the sincerity of the government’s call for a National Economic Dialogue, suggesting that it may be a political maneuver to avoid responsibility. She criticized the reliance on committees and dialogues, urging the government to take decisive action and implement policies based on the manifesto it campaigned on. -
Conclusion: A Call for Strong Leadership
In conclusion, Osei-Asare stressed that Ghana needs strong, forward-thinking leadership, not a government fixated on justifying past actions. She called on all Ghanaians to focus on responsible governance and policies that promote long-term financial stability and economic empowerment. Osei-Asare affirmed that the minority party is prepared to engage constructively in policies that will benefit the country but will challenge any attempts to misrepresent the economic situation or implement ineffective fiscal policies.
Osei-Asare’s critique emphasizes the importance of clear, responsible governance that focuses on economic growth, fiscal discipline, and sustainable development.
Source; mynewsgh
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