Minority presents its own State of the Nation address

By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH

Less than three hours after President John Dramani Mahama delivered his maiden State of the Nation Address in Parliament, the minority in Parliament presented their own version, calling it “The True State of the Nation Address”.

In a 12-page address, the Minority insisted that the true State of the Nation now is characterised by heightened insecurity, mass termination of the appointment of Ghanaian youth, mass violations of the human rights of Ghanaians, uncertainties about the directions of economic management, and dumsor, among others, by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

The group has thus called on President Mahama to come clear on the real reasons for the current blackouts (dumsor), which they say has created uncomfortable situations for businesses, particularly enterprises such as dressmakers, ice water sellers, and hair salons.

Below is the unedited address by the NPP Minority Caucus in Parliament.

THE TRUE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS Presented by the Minority

The true State of the Nation is characterized by heightened insecurity, mass termination of the appointment of Ghanaian youth, mass violations of the human rights of Ghanaians, uncertainties about the directions of economic management by the NDC Government, and Dumsor, among others.

Dumsor

In his last Statement of the Nation Address, the former President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo stated and rightly so, “it is worth emphasizing that I inherited a nation plagued by dumsor, but I am very happy to say that I leave office in 2025 with the lights on”. Sadly, after 7th January 2025, the Government of President Mahama has failed to keep the lights on.

Several excuses have been given for the current excruciating dumsor – the latest being the current maintenance programme of the West Africa Gas Pipeline.

We do not know whether under the NPP government, the Gas Pipeline was going through similar maintenance. If so, why were the lights on, but cannot be on today because of the maintenance of the Pipeline? President Mahama needs to come clear on the real reasons for the current dumsor, which has created uncomfortable situations for businesses, particularly small businesses like dressmakers, ice water sellers, and hair salons.

More disturbingly, many hospitals and clinics have started counting their losses as medical patients have become more exposed to the risks of survival due to the inability of these facilities to conduct regular operations.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have seen the return of Electric Generating Sets (Generators) in front of people’s shops. We have also now seen more people carrying Yellow Gallons to buy fuel to operate their generator sets. Just as we had the Kufour Gallons, which were used to buy water, we are safe to call these Gallons for fuel “Mahama Gallons”.

We wish now to call on President Mahama to cause ECG and NEDCo to publish a Timetable to guide the current load shedding, which at the moment is not good for planning by people and businesses.

As we gather here today to assess the state of the Ghanaian economy, I wish to remind the president and his government that he is taking us backwards to the era of dumsor, which was also characterized by high and unimaginable electricity tariffs.

We are very certain in our minds that from next month, this government intends to increase electricity tariffs even as the government is failing to provide us with stable electricity.

Mr. President, I wish to remind you that there is enough information available to guide you to take a cue from your predecessor, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

This fine, energetic gentleman you called all sorts of names had his government faced with the greatest global crisis since the Great depression of the 1930s, and on top of that the Russia/Ukraine war that led to the highest global inflation in several decades.

All these had significant debilitating effects on the economy he managed. But he took bold decisions to navigate through the problems by prioritizing lives and property first.

He was certain in mind that his decision to protect the lives and property of the Ghanaian in the crisis periods held unintended consequences to the economy, including increased cost of living.

He pursued the course of bold, empathetic decisions amid extreme circumstances. By dint of hard work, dedication, and the patriotic support of all Ghanaians, he was able to weather the storm from the legacy of excess energy capacity charges your previous government left for him without impairing the chances of the Ghanaian people from having constant/steady supply of fuel and electricity.

He was able to have adequate fuel supply without interruption for eight years. He was able to avoid a return to dumsor throughout his tenure. But what do we see today? You are just two months old, and you cannot keep the lights on?

What a shame – Ghana is indeed happening to all of us, as some young men would say. Mr. President, the data on electricity tariffs show that the government your predecessor, Nana Akufo-Addo, led had the lowest cumulative percentage increase in electricity tariffs relative to the government you led in the past.

You want to take us to your old, darkest past. We no go gree. The data shows that from 2009 to 2016, your NDC government did a cumulative percentage increase in electricity tariffs of 294.6%, which translates into an average increase in electricity tariffs of 36.8%.

In contrast, from 2017 to 2024, the NPP government did a cumulative percentage increase in electricity tariffs of 57.45% and an average of 7.2%. Thus, while under your government, electricity tariffs were increased astronomically, Ghanaians at the same time were living in dumsor.

Worse of it all, in the peak periods of dumsor in 2013, 2014, and 2015, your government increased electricity tariffs by 58.9% (2013), 28.4% (2014), and 90.9% (2015). Compare this to what the NPP government under President Akufo-Addo did for Ghanaians in the heat of the Covid-19 and Russia/Ukraine crisis – a reduction of 17.46% (2019), no increment/reduction (2020), no increment (2021), and no increment (2022).

To put it bluntly, the NPP government from 2017 to 2024 increased electricity tariffs in only three out of the eight years. On the contrary, you and the NDC increased electricity tariffs in 7 out of the 8 years you ruled.

Today, you are back again to increase electricity prices. Mr. President, if you do this, you will go into history as the only president to have increased electricity prices in his first year during the last 20 years.

Prof. Mills, of blessed memory, did not do it in 2009, and Akufo-Addo did not do it in 2017. Only you, and I mean only you. Termination of Employment of the Youth President Mahama campaigned on the message of high unemployment for the youth of our country.

However, as it is often said, “Coming events cast their shadows before them”. Rather than create more jobs for the people, President Mahama has dismissed those recruited before he got into office, in spite of his Oath to do good to all Ghanaians.

The previous NPP Government provided financial clearance since the beginning of 2024 for the recruitment of 15,000 Nurses, 10,000 Teachers, and several men and women into the security and other government agencies. The process commenced in the middle of 2024.

It is disheartening that these young Ghanaians who were happy to have the opportunity to serve their country have their dreams shattered by the Government in which they expressed their confidence during the recent General Elections, which produced President Mahama and a Super Majority in Parliament for the NDC.

The simple question we ask is, “What wrong have these young people done to be turned down by their President at the time when they need him most? The True State of the Nation, as we all know, is the termination of the ambitions of the young people of Ghana who simply took advantage of opportunities to be recruited and who went through the processes legally prescribed for their appointments.

They and their families are today very disillusioned, disappointed, and angry. We express our gratitude to the institutions that have called out the President. These include the Ghana Registered Nurses Association and the Ghana National Association of Teachers. Belatedly, the Trades Union Congress has now added its voice.

Public Sector Wage Management

The Ghanaian economy has recently seen significant recovery following years of economic difficulties occasioned by COVID-19 and the War in Ukraine. Particularly, 2024 witnessed an accelerated growth, recording a real GDP growth above 6% compared with the revised target of 4%.

Among others, this could be attributed to increased productivity as a result of significant increase in public sector wages consistent with the recovery path. In 2024, at an inflation of 23.8%, the Government increased the base pay for public sector workers by 23% for the January – June period, plus 2%, making it 25% for the period of July to December.

Notwithstanding that the period was an election year, and the country implementing an IMF program with all the austerity measures, the then Government prioritized the welfare of Ghanaian workers. Surprisingly, with the same level of inflation as last year, President Mahama shortchanged Ghanaian workers by making an adjustment in the base pay by only 10%, citing economic difficulties.

We are at a loss how an economy described by President Mahama as “criminally mismanaged” could deliver a wage adjustment of 25%, and yet a reset economy cannot accommodate more than 10% given the same level of inflation.

Sweeping of Accounts

Another issue of grave concern to the Ghanaian people is the unprecedented sweeping of the Accounts of public agencies, including even the Accounts of Senior High Schools, which has led to many agencies halting operations. The country is in a comatose, and nothing has been happening in these agencies since the NPP handed over the Government to the NDC.

We are even at pains to ask the government why this state of affairs despite the significant levels of revenues generated in January to date. January Domestic Tax Revenue amounted to GHS8.7 billion due to late tax payments from December hitting the GRA payment platform in January 2025.

The NPP Government also kept GHS3 billion of end 2024 revenues in the T-Main 2 Accounts for the new NDC government. The Government has also been boasting about oversubscribed T-Bills through which it borrowed GHS38 billion in January 2025 alone.

The Minister for Finance has also this week stated that since he assumed office, no contractors have been paid. The people of Ghana, therefore, want to know what the Government has been doing with all these money.

In our view, the recent payment of coupons to Domestic Bondholders did not require more than GHS6 billion in cash payments, and it is curious how the Government could undertake such unprecedented sweeping of the Accounts of all public agencies in spite of the level of revenue available to it.

This is the first time we have heard Heads of Senior High Schools complaining about their accounts being swept by the Government through the Controller and Accountant General Department.

We cannot allow this Mahama reset Government to grind this country to a halt; whilst blaming the previous Government for mismanaging the economy.

Payment of Coupons to Bondholders

The NDC Government recently fulfilled the obligations of the Government of Ghana towards domestic bondholders through the fourth payment of coupons to them. Whilst this is commendable, we in the minority want to assure the people of Ghana that we will ensure investor confidence continues to be sustained in our economy as we promise to hold this Government to its obligations in the same way the previous NPP Government did after the debt restructuring exercise.

On the Domestic Bondholders, we wish to remind the people of Ghana that the payment of coupons to them on the 18th of February 2025 was not a novelty. The previous NPP Government did not default in coupons payments as it has made all payments due to domestic bondholders since August 2023.

In fact, the previous NPP Government honoured 3 previous payments between August 2023 and December 2024 totaling GHS17.25 billion in Payment-In-Cash (PIC) and GHS9.77 billion in Payment-In-Kind (PIK) to bondholders based on the prescribed payment terms.

Also, individuals who did not tender their bonds were paid coupons amounting to GHS515.17 million at various times between 2023 and 2024, in line with the MoU signed between the Government and the Coalition of Individual Bondholders.

The Breakdown of the payments are as follows: 1st Payments: August 2023 Total payment – GHS8.55 billion (PIC – GHS5.42 billion & PIK deposit – GHS3.13 billion) 2nd Payments: February 2024 Total payment – GHS9.11 billion (PIC – GHS5.85 billion & PIK deposit – GHS3.27 billion) 3rd Payments: August 2024 Total Payment – GHS9.35 billion (PIC – GHS5.98 billion & PIK deposit – GHS3.38 billion).

The NPP minority wishes to caution President Mahama to stop playing politics with matters relating to investors in our economy. We are appalled by the President stopping the Public Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Finance from making such investor calls as has been the case during previous coupon payments.

This is the first time we have seen the presidency making such announcements. Such interference in the legitimate work of the professional staff of the Ministry does not engender confidence and transparency in the public sector.

We also know that the third payment of coupons to Ghana’s Eurobond holders will be honoured in the middle of the year. The previous NPP Government has already laid a strong foundation by honouring the first two coupon payments plus other charges of $520 million in October 2024 and $346 million on 3rd January 2025.

Thus, a total of almost $900 million or about GHS14 billion was paid to Eurobond holders by the then NPP Government in a period of 3 months. How could a country that was broke mobilize such a large amount of funds to make these payments?

Post-Elections Violence and Insecurity

It is unfortunate that despite winning the 2024 general elections, under the watch of President Mahama, the NDC, rather than celebrating their victory, resorted to violence upon the very nation they had been given to govern.

In any contest, the expectation is that the victor celebrates; however, in this case, the NDC surprisingly resorted to an unprecedented level of violence, leading to the destruction of properties and loss of lives, with the executive barely showing any remorse.

Election-related violence, which were not condemned nor controlled by the current government because they thought it was against their opponent, the NPP, has unfortunately set such a bad precedent for our dear nation and has the potential to even re-ignite pockets of conflicts in our country.

The needless loss of lives and properties could have been averted if president Mahama had interest to. Following the handover of power, the security situation in the country has been of concern to many, be it the unfortunate incidence in Obuasi or the violence at our football stadia leading to loss of lives.

Additionally, pockets of conflicts emerging in the country are becoming alarming under the watchful eyes of president Mahama, and the trend does not look good for the country, whether it is Bawku, Walewale or Hohoe, Ghanaians are concerned.

The president should sit up to avoid further slippage of the security situation of the peaceful country that was handed to him. Legacy of a strong economy Mr. President, try as you want to use unpresidential language to describe the economy you inherited, we will continue to remind you of your past as a failed president and point out to you that you have indeed inherited a better economy.

The facts speak for themselves. What are the facts? ✓ Overall GDP Growth: The average GDP growth rate under the NPP administration (2017–2023) was 4.7%, which marked an improvement from the 3.9% achieved under the NDC from 2013–2016. In Q3 2024, the growth rate rose significantly to 7.2%, indicating a robust recovery and expansion compared to the 3.4% you left in 2016.

This is the true state of the economy you inherited. ✓ Industry Growth: Industry growth under the NPP averaged 4.12% (2017–2023), up from 3.31% (2013–2016). In Q3 2024, this sector experienced a notable surge to 8.9%, evidence of targeted interventions aimed at revitalising the industrial sector, which is key to job creation and economic diversification.

Budget Deficit and Fiscal Discipline: Budget deficit as a percentage of GDP improved minimally from 6.7% under the NDC (2013–2016) to 6.55% in (2017-2023) under the NPP.

This underscored a more disciplined fiscal approach to managing public finances when you put in context. It is important to contextualise this in light of global economic challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic (declining tax revenues and disruptions in the global supply chain).

Cedi Depreciation: The cumulative exchange rate depreciation reduced from 73.8% (2009–2016) under the NDC to 71.4% (2017–2023).

Trade and Current Account Balances: The trade balance improved significantly from a deficit of -4.9% under the NDC to a surplus of 2.8% (2017–2023). Similarly, the current account balance shifted from -7% to 2.26%, showcasing the NPPs commitment to growing the economy.

Gross International Reserves: International reserves improved from $5.78 billion (2013–2016) to $7,639 million (2017–2023), providing a stronger buffer for external shocks. By Q4 2024, reserves increased to $9 billion (4 months of import cover) relative to the $6.2 billion (3.5 months of import cover) recorded in 2016.

It is on the strength of these solid economic foundations that your predecessor, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, successfully steered the affairs of this country for eight years without any challenge to the payment of teachers’ salaries.

This is not the same for you, Mr. President, who implemented a three-month pay policy for teachers by paying them only three months’ salary after they had worked for years.

And before I forget, your Vice President was the education minister who submitted that policy to cabinet. We don’t want a return of this. – Addressed one of the key challenges to teachers’ education by restoring the teacher trainee allowance that was cancelled by your government together with your Vice President who was education minister.

We don’t want a return of this. – Restored the vehicle import duty waiver for medical doctors and other health professionals.

Today, your government is messing that up. – While you, Mr. President, and your Vice President could not provide even chalk that was cheap for teaching in our schools, the NPP government has replaced chalk with a modern system of marker boards and markers.

We don’t want a return of the era of non-available chalks. – You canceled nursing trainees’ allowances, Mr. President. Today, the NPP has left you with an economy that is paying nursing trainee allowances.

We don’t want to go back. – Under your watch as President, Ghanaians, especially women, had to queue for hours and sometimes days to get cooking gas to cook for their households and husbands.

Today, courtesy of the NPP, no Ghanaian queues to buy cooking gas. We don’t want to go back. – Mr. President, just create a picture in your mind whereby people wake up in the morning to go to work and there is no trotro, Uber, yango, or taxi to take them to work just because they are all locked up in endless queues at the fuel station because there is no fuel.

This is what we went through under you. For eight years under the NPP, there has never been any shortage of diesel or petrol. You have inherited an economy with an abundant fuel supply.

We don’t want to go back. – Mr. President, in eight years, the NPP government was focused and determined in implementing Free Senior High School education and Free TVET to relieve parents of the burden of inability to finance their children’s education.

On top of the Free SHS, the NPP government also absorbed the examination fees for both WASSCE and BECE. This is the economy you inherited. You dare not take us backwards.

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