SONA2024: Edudzi Tamakloe Claims Ghana is Bankrupt

Edudzi Tamakloe, a private legal practitioner and director of legal affairs for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), asserts that Ghana is currently in a state of bankruptcy.

He maintained that President Akufo-Addo presently cannot read what he read as the “real state of the country”, which he delivered on February 29, 2016, after former President Mahama addressed the nation.

During an interview on TV3’s New Day on Monday, February 26, Edudzi Tamakloe emphasized that President Akufo-Addo is presently incapable of delivering a State of the Nation address similar to the one he gave on February 29, 2016, asserting various challenges in the current state of the country.

He continued by saying, “What he [President Akufo-Addo] called the real state, today, he would not be proud to even read. Let the point be made clear, the state of Ghana today is that officially we have been declared bankrupt”, he added.

He pointed out that in 2023, Ghana faced challenges in servicing its external debts, highlighting a notable contrast from the state of the country in 2016. Additionally, Edudzi Tamakloe highlighted that the current depreciation of the cedi is significantly different from the situation recorded eight years ago.

“The Ghana cedi is trading almost 13 Ghana cedis for a dollar. At the time, President Akufo-Addo delivered what he called the real State of the Nation address on 29th February, 2016, the Ghana cedis was trading for three cedis, six pesewas”, he stated.

He criticized President Akufo-Addo for presiding over record-high inflation, emphasizing that it was significantly higher than the 16% inflation rate recorded in 2016.

“…inflation at that time February 2016 was less than 16 percent. Under the watch of President Akufo-Addo the reckless driver and his mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, inflation rose to 54 percent.”

President Akufo-Addo will, on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, deliver his last but one constitutional address on the state of the nation under his stewardship.

The address is expected to touch on all sectors of the country. The economy remains a critical theme ahead of the address amidst the country’s programme under the IMF.

Unemployment, education, health and security would also be keenly monitored, especially going into the December 7 general elections.

Source/TV3 New Day/Accralive.com/Ebenezer Junior Arthur