The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, acknowledged the difficult period Ghana and the world have experienced over the past two years, while expressing optimism about the ongoing economic recovery. Speaking at the launch of the 2024 NPP Manifesto in Takoradi on Sunday, Dr. Bawumia reflected on the challenges the country has faced but also pointed to positive developments, including a reduction in inflation to around 20 percent, as predicted by international agencies.
“The hardship is real. Our debt became unsustainable and had to be restructured. Bondholders saw a sharp decline in their net worth following the painful yet unavoidable debt restructuring program. We faced very challenging times,” Dr. Bawumia acknowledged.
“But with calm leadership and the support and understanding of the good people of Ghana, we have weathered the worst of the storm, and the economy is firmly on a path of recovery, with increasing GDP growth and declining inflation. It is gratifying to note that our policy interventions have started yielding the desired macroeconomic results,” he added.
Dr. Bawumia also recognized that, despite signs of improvement, many households continue to struggle with the high cost of living. He emphasized his commitment, if elected President, to build on the progress made and to address the remaining challenges.
“Many economists and analysts have rightly stated that Ghana has turned the corner, but we know that for many families, the cost of living is still very high, and we are committed to doing more to alleviate the difficulties Ghanaians are facing,” he assured.
Commitment to Job Creation for the Youth
Dr. Bawumia also highlighted the government’s efforts in job creation, noting that while more jobs have been created under the NPP administration than any other in the Fourth Republic, youth unemployment remains a significant issue. He reaffirmed his commitment to implementing effective measures to create additional job opportunities.
“We are equally committed to creating more job opportunities that will significantly reduce youth unemployment,” he stated. “We have so far created 2.3 million jobs—the most of any government in this Fourth Republic—yet youth unemployment remains a problem that we are addressing. We are committed to doing even more.”
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of continuity, arguing that it is better to support a party that has a proven track record of job creation than to return to a party and a leader who, after four years of ‘dumsor,’ created more unemployment than any other government in the Fourth Republic. “As they say, ‘follow who know road,'” Dr. Bawumia remarked.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
