The Minority in Parliament is demanding the resignation of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as head of government’s Economic Management Team because he has failed to demonstrate leadership.
According to the group, the Vice President is ‘missing in action’ as the cedi’s depreciation against the dollar and other international currencies enter history as the worst; trading at GH¢8.5 to the dollar Friday morning.
The group noted that Dr. Bawumia the ‘economic guru’ who managed to address all the economic challenges of the country ‘with 170 questions when in opposition’ has suddenly gone into comatose and is nowhere to be found.
Speaking to the media in Parliament Friday on the astronomical prices of fuel at the pumps, Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu, John Jinapor, argued performance of the NPP government has been abysmal.
He said, “Indeed, the failure of this government is legendary and unprecedented. If I were the Vice President, what I will be doing is to tender in my resignation as head of the Economic Management Team.”
“The Economic Management team under Dr. Bawumia has failed woefully; indeed they have run out of ideas,” he added.
Mr. Jinapor stated the government must show that it cares for the people but what it has been doing in the last few weeks as the economy grinds to a halt is to whine and whine.
He called on President Akufo-Addo to sit up and take pragmatic steps towards ensuring they cushion ordinary Ghanaians.
The former Deputy Minister for Power disclosed that the Energy Sector Levy has accrued over GH¢18 billion since its inception, however, checks indicate only GH¢15 has been spent.
“The balance of GH¢3 billion cannot be accounted for and worse of them is the price stabilization and recovery levy that is supposed to cushion Ghanaians and petroleum consumers in difficult moments like this.”
“The price stabilization levy was supposed to accrue over GH¢2 billion but only GH¢1 billion has been spent.”
“Where is the remainder of the price stabilization recovery level. This government has been a monumental failure,” he stated.
According to him, Ghana has the highest price when it comes to petroleum products at the pumps compared to 33 African countries including those that are not even oil producing countries and indicated transport prices have increased by 15%.
He said, “Inflation today is at a rate of 15% but in Greater Accra it is about 19%. This morning the exchange rate, the dollar to the cedi is trading at GH¢8.5.”
“The Ghanaian cedis is the worst in Africa in terms of performance with other major currencies. The price of diesel at the pump is over GH¢40 per gallon.”
This, he said, is the true state of the Ghanaian economy today and added, “Workers are suffering, teachers are suffering, drivers are suffering, Members of Parliament are suffering and market women are really suffering.”
“Indeed you wake up today and you don’t even know how you are going to make ends meet,” he stated.
Source: Mypublisher24.com