Response to attacks on straight-talking Ken Agyapong
On “Strategist” Comment:
- Despite being a leading member of the ruling NPP government, Straight-talking Ken Agyapong would not be running to lead the next NPP government if he did not believe he could do better on the economy than what we have done so far. Those who do not believe they can do better should exit the race.
- While the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war impacted the economic crisis in most African countries including Ghana, our business-as-usual approach to managing our economy informs us that we have not learned our lessons and are, therefore, prone to future external shocks to our economy. Informed by this reality, Straight-talking Ken Agyapong offers a different, business-like approach to managing the economy based upon a better leveraging of Ghana’s own resources – domestic and overseas.
- Regarding Hon. Ken Agyapong’s previous endorsement of the Vice President and his recent criticism, it only shows that he will consistently be truthful and honest with his assessment of others and give praise or criticism when and where they are due.
- a) When Hon. Ken Agyapong praised the Vice President’s handling of our economy in April of 2021, Ghana’s economic indicators were commendable and better than our peers who had also been affected by the pandemic.
- b) Today, our economic indicators are worse than many of our peers who have also been impacted by both the pandemic and the Ukraine war. That simply means many of our peers have better economic strategists than our Vice President who chairs our Economic Management Team (EMT).
- c) We cannot play Ostrich and run from this reality in the belief that, somehow, Ghanaians do not feel the hardships or the NDC will not bring this up in the general elections campaign.
On Hon. Kobby Okyere Darko Mensah’s Attack
- As for the infantile assertion of Ken Agyapong holding multiple responsibilities and benefiting from government contracts,
- a) Going through a competitive bidding process to win government contracts is better than allegedly engaging in illegal mining and being hospitalized from the effects of a driver absconding with his resulting ill-gotten monies.
- b) If holding multiple responsibilities is bad, the Takoradi MP should leave his Regional Minister position for someone else and concentrate on being an MP.
- c) Ken Agyapong keeps the proceeds in Ghana to open businesses that employ the youth. If all winners of government contracts did the same, Ghana’s youth would find jobs.