Don’t Politicize Economic Gains – Oppong Nkrumah Warns Government

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee and MP for Ofoase Ayirebi, has advised the current government to prioritise preserving Ghana’s recent economic progress instead of using it as a tool for political gain.

His remarks follow debates triggered by a staff-level agreement recently reached between the Government of Ghana and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to Nkrumah, the agreement is further proof that the foundations laid by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration were solid, and that the narrative of economic mismanagement is unfounded.

The MP’s comments were made during an interview on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on Tuesday, April 15. In the conversation, he cautioned against what he described as a growing tendency by the current administration to politicise economic data and undermine the achievements of their predecessors.

He stated, “The government’s responsibility should be to build on the gains made, not to constantly find ways to downplay them or distort the facts to suit a political agenda.”

Oppong Nkrumah criticised what he perceives as a deliberate effort to discredit the economic record of the NPP government. He argued that the ruling party has consistently attempted to manipulate public perception by casting doubt on the accuracy of economic indicators from the previous administration.

“It is clear that there was an attempt to create a narrative that the economy was mismanaged and that the data was unreliable,” he said. “But the IMF’s recent assessment has proven that narrative wrong. The fundamentals were not as weak as they tried to make the public believe.”

The former Information Minister expressed optimism about Ghana’s current economic direction, stressing that the country is on a path to recovery. He attributed part of this progress to policy frameworks and reforms that were initiated before the change in government.

He also emphasised the importance of maintaining continuity in national economic policies, regardless of which political party is in power. In his view, the economy should not be treated as a battleground for partisan interests, but rather as a shared responsibility.

“Economic growth and stability should unite us, not divide us. Whether progress comes under an NPP or NDC government, it is Ghana that wins,” he stated. “It’s time to move past the blame game and work together to improve the lives of our citizens.”

Oppong Nkrumah called for a more collaborative, bipartisan approach to economic governance. He believes that meaningful reform and sustainable growth can only be achieved when leaders across the political divide commit to policies that serve national interests over party politics.

The recent agreement between Ghana and the IMF includes a set of reform commitments aimed at stabilising the economy, improving fiscal discipline, and restoring investor confidence. While details of the agreement are still emerging, analysts have described the development as a positive indication of Ghana’s willingness to stay the course on reform.

With elections on the horizon and public scrutiny intensifying, the issue of economic performance is expected to remain at the center of political debate. However, Nkrumah insists that partisan rhetoric must give way to constructive engagement if Ghana is to overcome its challenges and sustain long-term development.

In concluding, he reiterated his appeal to the government: “Let’s protect the gains made and work to deepen them. The economy should be a point of pride, not a tool for political attacks.”