Former Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam has dismissed President John Mahama’s assertion that he inherited a struggling economy, questioning the basis of Mahama’s call for a national economic dialogue.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition on Thursday, Dr Amin Adam expressed scepticism over Mahama’s characterization of Ghana’s economic state, pointing to positive assessments from international financial institutions.
“This is why, when I hear President Mahama say that he inherited a struggling economy, I worry,” he stated. “He’s calling for a national economic dialogue. I worry. I wonder, where is he from? Was he on Mars?”
He referenced the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which he said had already assessed the economy before the transition, giving what he described as an “emphatic judgment.”
“Just on the second of December, the IMF gave a judgment on our economy. The IMF that they have also been consulting since it came into government. They have been talking to the IMF. They have been talking to the World Bank, which on December 2, gave an emphatic judgment about the economy,” he argued.
Reflecting on his time as finance minister, Dr Amin Adam emphasized his role in Ghana’s debt restructuring and engagement with the IMF, which he described as key milestones during his tenure.
“For me, it was a learning experience as well,” he noted. “I did a lot of external work, particularly working with the IMF to implement the IMF program and also handling the debt restructuring with the Eurobonds. Those were significant moments in the history of our country, and I took them very seriously.”
He highlighted that the successful implementation of the IMF program, which went through three reviews—including the last one on December 2—was a major achievement of his leadership at the Finance Ministry.
Dr Amin Adam’s remarks come amid a broader debate over the true state of Ghana’s economy, with Mahama’s administration calling for urgent interventions. However, his comments suggest a sharp disagreement with Mahama’s claims, setting the stage for a heated policy discussion.
