The Director of Communications for the Bawumia Campaign, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has said that the cost of living for Ghanaians has worsened one year into the NDC government, despite official claims of economic recovery.
Speaking at the People’s Forum, an event assessing the government’s first year in office, Mr. Aboagye argued that while inflation has declined and the cedi has shown signs of appreciation against the US dollar, household expenses continue to rise faster than incomes.
“If this is a reset, then we are in trouble,” he said. “The views from the People’s Forum show that we are not experiencing a reset but a reverse, and the people are upset.”
He highlighted a growing disconnect between the government’s economic indicators and the realities faced by ordinary Ghanaians.
“They are upset because inflation and the dollar are dropping, yet the cost of living keeps rising. There is a disconnect between the policies the government is touting and the evidence we experience,” he noted, citing rising utility tariffs and education-related costs as examples.
“If I am a teacher coming from Dodowa and you give me a 9% increase, but today I am spending more on electricity, water, school fees and hostel fees, then it becomes a problem,” he added.
Questioning the relevance of lower inflation in the face of steep utility hikes, Mr. Aboagye said: “When electricity tariffs go up by 28%, it makes nonsense of inflation coming down from 23% to 15%.”
He urged the government to pay closer attention to feedback from ordinary citizens, including market women and commercial drivers, stressing that economic progress must be felt at the household level.
“The indicators may be true, but they are not reflecting in our lives,” he concluded.
