Alexander Afenyo-Markin
The Minority in Parliament has dismissed claims that the recent signs of recovery in the economy are the result of sound economic management by the government, insisting that the improvements are largely driven by external interventions rather than deliberate policy choices.
Addressing the media in Parliament yesterday the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, acknowledged that the economy appears to be showing positive indicators but questioned the basis of the government’s self-congratulation.
According to him, the current upturn has little to do with competence or innovative reforms under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
He argued that the stabilisation being experienced is mainly the product of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, debt relief arrangements, rising commodity exports and restrained public expenditure, rather than any fundamental re-engineering of the economy.
“We have been told that the economy is doing well, and that is not in doubt. But the real question is whether this improvement is the result of prudent economic management or simply the outcome of external support and conditions that have eased fiscal pressures,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin said.
He maintained that the gains being touted by the government predate the current administration and cannot be attributed to new social interventions or policy ingenuity.
The Minority also rejects what he described as an attempt by the government to take undue credit for circumstances largely shaped outside its control.
By Ernest Kofi Adu