Andrew Atariwini, the Deputy Upper East Regional Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is confident in the government’s ability to ensure that the economy rebounds. Should the economy rebound, many Ghanaians would feel great economic relief, according to Mr. Atariwini.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show, the NPP communicator explained that over the past 6 months, the government’s singular aim has been to ensure that the right economic decisions are taken to tame inflation, help the cedi appreciate against major tradiing currencies and allow the general fall in the prices of goods and services.
“What I have liked is the honesty of government. Government has been very honest, very open and very factual with the Ghanaian people by telling that these are not normal times and these are the challenges that we face. If you go into critical areas, I was thinking that the way inflation was going up, the way the prices of fuel were going up, the way the dollar was leaving the cedi behind, we were going to end the year really crying. I just cannot understand the courage, the expertise, the wisdom and economic knowledge that this government could marshall within the last quarter of this year to be able to get the economy in the state that we find it and then at least, showing some good reflections that there is hope for the future. For me, the management of the economy, from what it was, 6 months ago and now, gives me something to be proud of and hopeful going into the future,” he said.
The Ghana cedi strengthened in value against the dollar almost days after the government launched the Debt Exchange Programme.
The local currency also improved in value against the other major foreign currencies, the pound and the euro.
It is, however, unclear why the cedi gained value against these major international currencies.
But some market watchers and analysts attribute it to the Debt Exchange Programme and very recently, the announcement of a staff level agreement between the government and its partners.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana