We’ve Not Witnessed Fuel Queues, Food Shortages Or “Dumsor”; Akufo-Addo
The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo does not believe the country has hit the rock despite conceding the country is facing an economic crisis.
He indicated that the difficulties that confront the country cannot be compared to that of neighbouring and other advanced countries.
Countries like Nigeria, France, United Kingdom have been witnessing long queues at fuel stations in the quest to access petroleum products amid shortages while hunger, food inflation and food shortages have hit some parts of the world.
The World Food Programme (WFP) in 2022 reported that the number of people facing, or at risk of, acute food insecurity increased from 135 million in 53 countries in the pre-pandemic era, to 345 million in 82 countries.
“Fuelled by conflict, climate shocks and COVID-19, the crisis is escalating as the war in Ukraine drives up the costs of food, fuel and fertilizers”, the WFP said.
Ghana has not been spared either, however, President Akufo-Addo said the country hasn’t been impacted as others have.
Speaking at the 66th Independence Day Celebration in Ho in the Volta region, President Akufo-Addo said Ghanaians have to “count our blessings”.
“Maybe, we should also count our blessings on how, together, we are managing the difficulties. We all see the images around the world. Here in Ghana, we have not had any fuel queues, we have not suffered shortages of food and essential items, nor the catastrophe of ‘dumsor’ ”, he said.
With the domestic economic challenges, he said, they are being sponsored by “major global developments”, bellying government mismanagement and incompetence as the critics say.
“We have witnessed historic highs in global inflation and food prices; rising global interest rates triggered by the tightening of monetary policy of central banks across several advanced economies to tame rising inflation; an energy crisis with crude oil prices reaching unprecedented highs, at one point, above one hundred and twenty dollars (US$120) per barrel; the strengthening of the US dollar against all other currencies; the tightening of global financing conditions especially for emerging markets and developing economies; and the largescale disruption of the global supply chain.”
He assured that his government is “working hard” to resolve the difficulties.
“I am confident that, sooner rather than later, we will see significant results of relief and recovery. In two days, on Wednesday, 8th March, I will, in the Chamber of Parliament, deliver a Message on the State of the Nation, where I will delve into much greater detail the entirety of the package of policies Government is implementing to bring back the days of rapid growth.”
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
