President Nana Akufo Addo has assured that the policies being implemented by Government, in the wake of the difficulties occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, will help the economy rebound faster than anticipated.

Acknowledging the difficult times the nation is going through, Akufo-Addo noted that every country on the face of the planet, is going through challenges brought forth largely by the pandemic of COVID-19.

“Ghana is not the only country faced with extraordinary increases in global freight rates, strong inflationary pressures, dramatically rising fuel prices, unprecedented volatility of stock markets, and tighter global financing conditions. These are global phenomena,” he said.

The President continued, “Nonetheless, Government continues to work hard to address these issues, and I am certain that, sooner, rather than later, our economy, through the implementation of Government’s GH¢100 billion Ghana CARES Obaatanpa Programme, will rebound from the ravages of the pandemic, bringing in its wake stability, development, progress and prosperity for all Ghanaians.”

Speaking at the 92nd Speech and Prize-Giving Day of St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast, on Saturday, the President noted that the Ghanaian economy grew at a provisional 5.2% in the first three quarters of 2021, with GDP growth for 2021 projected at 5.6%, as against the 0.4% of 2020.

“We need to undertake the difficult but necessary fiscal and other measures that will enable us to maintain the 2021 and higher rates of growth in the immediate years ahead of us, to develop and strengthen our economy, and help improve the living standards of us all,” he added.

Democracy

Touching on the country’s democratic credentials, President Akufo-Addo noted that the Ghanaian people, for these last twenty-nine (29) years of the 4th Republic, have reposed their trust in the democratic process as the avenue to resolve the myriad of problems the country faces, and have demonstrated their determination to uphold democratic values and institutions to bring development to the nation.

“There are a few, though, whom I have characterised as “restless spirits”, who are not prepared to allow you to complete your education in conditions of calm, peace and stability, and who seek constant turbulence in the governance of the state. This has led, lately, to some irresponsible utterances about coups as panaceas to our problems,” he said.

He continued, “I have said, and will use this platform to repeat that coups have never been, and will never be durable solutions to the political, economic and security challenges confronting our nation and continent.”

The President was confident that the great majority of Ghanaians, who are committed to democratic values and democratic institutions, “will continue to resist the rhetoric and advances of coup mongers and coup plotters, and those of us who have the responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the state will employ all legitimate means in a democracy to preserve our free, open system of governance, which is respectful of human rights, the rule of law and the principles of democratic accountability.”