Business activities came to a standstill last week when members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) locked their shops over Ghana’s forex challenges and the cost of living crisis in the country.
The protest which was largely met with support from traders saw traders locking their shops for days.
At various parts of Accra shops were closed causing great discomfort to prospective buyers in the business districts across the country.
At Tudu, for example, only about a third of shops were closed in support of the protest.
The situation was compounded by the free fall of the cedi.
For now, the Deputy Trade Minister, Michael Okyere Baafi, has said the government will maintain a fixed exchange rate at the ports for the next three months to cushion traders who import goods into Ghana.
The greatest news probably is the assurance that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and government have identified specific policies to help stabilise the Ghanaian economy from its current predicament.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Bretton Woods institution after its officials visited Ghana from 11th to 19th October 2022.
For us the request by President Nana Akufo-Addo to Ghanaians to have faith in him to change the country’s current ailing economy is soothing.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo he has kept faith in God, and he is optimistic that God will help him change the current economic crisis.
Addressing congregants at the St. Mark Anglican Church during the inauguration of the Kyebi Archdeaconry to begin the final day of his 3-day tour of the Eastern Region, President Nana Addo said Ghana’s current economic crisis too shall pass.
“Let’s keep our faith in God and let’s trust God to use me to turn the fortunes of the nation around. Don’t lose your faith in me. Keep believing me, know that this too shall pass.”
The Diocesan Bishop of the Anglican Church, Rt. Rev Felix Odei Annanxy who noted the global economic crisis pleaded with the president to have “direct contact with God for vision to lead the country right and change the economy.”
The paper supports the president’s call for all to rally behind him as nothing is impossible to surmount with God in your boat.
All through his Presidency, the president has obviously dedicated his tenure to God indicating from the beginning that the battle has always been the Lords.
The GHANAIAN PUBLISHER is of the hope that something substantial will come out of the various policies and engagements put in place to restore the economy to its right track.
The paper however ascribes to the school of thought that the president must as a matter of urgency consider addressing the nation in such crucial times as he did in the COVID-19 time.
This will enable the citizenry to be abreast with the giant steps Nana Akuffo-Addo and his government is taking in respect of economic woes the country is facing.
Ghanaians are weeping, there is gnashing of teeth over the hardships we are seeing. It is important to mention that, Mr. President, most people are not necessarily blaming you for the hardships they are experiencing; but rather, your seemingly lack of concern about their plights.
All the people are asking for is for you to show concern. They want you to show concern through periodic addresses to them. They need you to be engaging them with your fellow Ghanaians addresses.
It may be recalled that you comforted the citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic period. You assured us of your fatherly love for us. You outlined the measures to dealing with the situation we found ourselves in.
Civil Society Organizations have called on you to speak to the nation, your own party people have been clamoring for your addresses, very influential persons in society including the clergy are also asking you to address the nation. All of these people cannot be wrong.
There are certain events which can be bequeathed to subordinates to handle, but this is not one of them. Nobody in your government would be listened to over this except you yourself!
Address the nation and carry all of us along. Show concern, appeal to us to calm down as you used to, let us know the measures being rolled out to soften the excruciating pains we are going through.
Mr. President, we are suffocating, we are being strangulated by these hardships and require your soothing words, your assuring promises to calm us down.
People increasing the prices of their goods would only stop if you ask them to. Let them know that their actions do not only affect you but they themselves, their children and the future generation of Ghanaians.
The GHANAIAN PUBLISHER believes the silence by the president only emboldens critics who think the government is benefiting and is unconcerned with the plight of the citizens.
As the president rightly puts it the economic woes Ghana is going through shall also pass especially when the battle is still the Lords…!
