President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to believe in themselves and in their ability to overcome the ongoing economic challenge.
According to him, there have been many instances throughout history when nations go through periods where dark clouds create shadows that momentarily shield the yearned-for vision from sight.
Such moments, he said, should not be ones in which to despair but ones that call for the strength of character, sense of purpose, and an abiding commitment to the general good.
President Akufo-Addo made the call in the Message of the State of the Nation that he delivered to Parliament on Wednesday 8th March, 2023.
He averred that things may be dire today nonetheless Ghanaians must still count their blessings for how the government has been able to stem the tide of disaster that has engulfed the nation since the impact of the COVID-pandemic and the Russian and Ukraine hit.
“Our petrol stations have fuel, and we have been spared long, winding queues to fuel our vehicles.”
He said. “Our markets and shops are, by the Grace of God, well-stocked, and we have not been faced with the prospect of the rationing of basic necessities such as fruits and vegetables.”
“Our children’s schooling has not been interrupted. We have continued to provide Free SHS, Free TVET and pay teacher and nursing training allowances.”
“Our electricity supply has been consistent, and we have been spared the hardship of Dumsor during such a trying time. Our country continues to be stable and at peace,” he added.
He stressed the current economic challenge is a phase and trusts with every fiber of his being this too shall pass.
The government, he said, has done it before and will do it again.
The President argued many including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have confirmed the economy was doing well until COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine took it off course.
He observed some people are unwilling to accept the good trajectory of the economy until the covid perhaps because of the severity of the present difficulties because it suits their preconceived agenda.
He argued, however, that the Ghanaian people have accepted this fact as evidenced in the results of the 2020 presidential election that unanimously endorse and upheld the Supreme Court.
He said, “We took many decisions, we did many things which, according to the science, were the most reliable and trusted ways to save lives and livelihoods at the time, which may look strange and unnecessary today, but that is from the safe perspective of not waking up to check on the COVID-19 infection or death rate.”
“Today, the science might be that such measures make no difference to the spread of the virus, but criminality or reckless spending cannot be ascribed to the decision to undertake such measures.”
President Akufo-Addo averred that in dealing with the crisis nobody was brave enough to suggest consideration of money should be a hindrance to anything needed to fight against the virus.
He expressed gratitude to Ghanaians who rose to the occasion and went through the crisis and came out well by defying the doomsday predictions about the inevitability of dead bodies on the nation’s streets.
“I am grateful that we saw the wisdom in helping each other, and I thank those who contributed their expertise, time and energy to the fight against the virus, and I thank those who contributed to the COVID-19 fund that was set up to help us meet some of the expenditures,” he added.