Mahama's taxation on condoms, cutlasses was 'worse' in economy handling - John Boadu

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has reacted to the opposition National Democratic Congress's score card on the state of the Ghanaian economy.

The NDC at a forum organised by the Professionals Forum on Monday (PROFORUM) said the economy in spite of the several gains made under past governments to provide the needed footings is currently being steered in the wrong direction by the Akufo-Addo led administration.

“Despite these favourable conditions, most of the gains we made and bequeathed to this government have been eroded and we have been plunged into further economic crisis,” former President John Dramani Mahama said on Monday while speaking at the PROFORUM event.

Read also: COVID-19 a pretext for 'reckless spending' by Akufo-Addo - Mahama

For Mr Mahama, “COVID-19 has become the convenient whipping boy and has been cited as the reason for the crisis we face now and the attendant economic hardships.”

NPP reaction

But reacting on Tuesday, the NPP said Mr John Mahama was the least person who should comment on the economy as he was "worse" in handling the Ghanaian economy.

The General Secretary of the NPP, Mr John Boadu addressing a press conference said Mr Mahama should be the least person who should tout his achievements when it comes to the economy since the NPP is cleaning out the mess caused by Mr Mahama's administration.

"Former President Mahama and Seth Terkper are on public record as being the worse duo to have ever been in charge of the Ghanaian economy at the same time," Mr Boadu said.

"This pair is a dangerous pair, yet in their public forum on 6th September 2021, this pair sought to create the impression that they had the best of times running this Ghanaian economy," he added.

"Unfortunately for them the facts shows otherwise. Much as John Mahama seek his re-election on a campaign platform of going back to the IMF, he attempts to confuse history by painting a rosy picture. He said he is somebody who loves history but he confuses history by attempting to paint a rosy picture of his disastrous management of the Ghanaian economy between 2012 and 2016."

"His economy under Seth Terkper never recovered leading to unheard of taxation measures including putting taxes on condoms and cutlasses," Mr Boadu said.

Watch the NPP's reaction in the video attached below