Joe Jackson, the Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, has said Ghana’s economy has moved from intensive care to physiotherapy.
According to Joe Jackson, the Ghanaian economy can be likened to a sick patient who suffered a stroke.
Joe Jackson emphasised that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) deserves some credit for the recent stability.
He, however, noted that the NDC has applied a far more rigorous regimen to the Ghanaian economy.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Joe Jackson stated, “Ghana’s economy can be likened to a sick patient who suffered a stroke. In 2022, 2023, and early 2024, we were in the throes of a lot of pain. But by the end of 2024, things were getting better.”
“We’ve moved from intensive care in six months to physiotherapy. Yes, we are still in the ward. Yes, we need daily monitoring. Yes, there are going to be possible setbacks. But let’s credit, one those who did the initial care and even more, the new regime of doctors.”
He added, “With the change in doctors, we also changed the medication. And the doctors applied a far more rigorous regimen… and we saw a significant jump.”
“You can’t be talking about forex rates on one hand and then turn around and say it never got to 15 or 17. Let’s stop comparing apples and oranges,” he said.
Joe Jackson added, “Say what you like, compare Bank of Ghana rates, we’ve still come down from 13–14 to 10.5. Take forex rates, and you will still see a reduction. So it’s neither here nor there.”
“The role of the opposition is not to cheer the party in power. So, some of it, I hear it, I discount it, and I move on,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, has boldly asserted that he cannot apportion any form of credit to the NPP in regards to the performance of the Ghanaian economy.
Ato Forson noted that the NPP government under former President Akufo-Addo and Bawumia was reckless and caused a lot of pain.
Ato Forson is quoted by Radio Gold as saying, “I cannot apportion any form of credit to the NPP; they were reckless and caused a lot of pain.
They should be apologising. What did they do and leave behind that we should give them credit for?”
In addition, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson fired shots at the former Akufo-Addo government for living a champagne lifestyle on an ‘akpeteshie’ budget.
Ato Forson noted that the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government did not have revenue, but they were just spending.
He noted that the NPP are worried because the NDC is being prudent in its spending.
Speaking in an interview on JOYNEWS after the budget presentation, Ato Forson stated, “The NPP used to spend what they didn’t have. They didn’t have revenue, but they were just spending. So they expect us to spend.
They were living large. I mean, they were living a champagne lifestyle on akpeteshie budget”.
He added, “If you live such a lifestyle and someone comes in and becomes very prudent, you will be worried. That is why they are complaining — they want us to spend as if there’s no tomorrow.
“We don’t do that. That is not our training. You spend within your means; what we have is what we’re spending, and we’re spending rightly,” he stressed.
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