Mr. Kwame Jantuah, a private legal practitioner, has expressed his apprehension over the silence of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) in Ghana.
Jantuah appeared on television and questioned why the Vice President, who heads the Economic Management Team, has not spoken publicly about the programme. He added that Bawumia’s silence could indicate that not everyone in the government is in favour of the DDEP.
Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, also expressed his concern over the DDEP earlier and suggested that it could lead to the defeat of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections.
According to Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, the Finance Minister’s recent U-turn on not touching individual bondholders was a positive step, but the party still has a lot to do to avoid a defeat.
The Ghana government is seeking to implement the DDEP to tackle the country’s fiscal challenges. Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has urged as many people as possible to participate in the programme. He stated that non-participation or a low turnout could prolong the current economic crisis and jeopardize international financial support.
He also mentioned that the government desires an economy that is stable, vibrant, productive, and inclusive. The lack of public support from Vice President Bawumia and concerns raised by Kennedy Agyapong indicate that the DDEP is not without its challenges. The government must work hard to ensure that the programme is implemented smoothly and with the support of the public.