I have not said ‘NPP better at managing economy’ – Spio-Garbrah

NDC Presidential candidate hopeful, Ekwow Spio-Gabrah, says a news report that claims he has touted the Nana Akufo-Addo-led NPP government as being better at economic management than the NDC is false.

Some news portals have quoted the former Trade Minister under the John Mahama administration as saying, “On the law and order issue, they are very low, on trying to deal with the macro-economy in terms of just bringing the numbers down; inflation rate, deficits etc, they are doing better than the NDC had done.”

However, Mr Spio-Grabrah has reacted, describing the extension of his comments on the inflation rate and budget deficit to the performance of the whole economy in the report as misleading.

“Misleading and inaccurate headline!! I cited specifically NPP’s better performance with regards to inflation and the budget deficit—these are facts—, but then to note that just those two variables do NOT constitute an “economy” so the headline that “ NPP is doing [better] than NDC in managing the economy” and attributed to me which some media houses are running, is inaccurate,” he said.

He adds: “I have not said anywhere that the NPP is doing better than NDC in managing the economy. For example, the NPP is at least GHȻ 2 billion short in revenue generation; has seen a slippage in the exchange rate, including frequent shortages of dollars on the open market; NPP has been unable to pay various categories of workers on time; to tame increases in the prices of fuel and utilities; and they have done very little to create jobs and generate employment; or to diversify the economy. So the headline is deliberately twisted and we shall respond to it…”