Agyepong Swipes JJ

The press secretary to the President, Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, has stated that it is not wholly true that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has worsened the plight of the Ghanaian, more than the situation was during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) era.

He has also denied that President Kufuor is afraid of the December polls, and as a result, was preparing the grounds to rig the forth-coming presidential and parliamentary elections

Mr. Agyepong was emphatic that the restoration of respect to the Office of the president was due to the President?s affability and meekness, as well as his love and empathic feelings for fellow human beings. ?These sound qualities of President Kufuor?s character have really endeared him to the hearts of Ghanaians within the last three and half years, he asserted.?

Speaking on a morning show programme on a national radio station, Uniq FM, on Tuesday September 7, in response to former President Rawlings? pronouncements at Frankadua in the Easter Region, the Presidential Spokesperson and Press Secretary said he finds it ridiculous that former President Rawlings keeps on describing President Kufuor and members of his government as thieves and murders.

Referring to the state of the economy, he remarked that in 1997, the cedi parity rate to the US dollar was ?1,745, adding that, by the year 2001, when President Kufuor took over power, it was ?7,016 to the US Dollar.

Speaking statistically, he said that between January 2000 and now, the cedi rate to the US Dollar has been ?7,000 and ?9,000 respectively, while bank lending rates have dropped from about 52 per cent in 2000, to between 25 and 27 per cent, currently, thus allowing the business community a better access to credit. He indicated that the ailing Ghanaian economy has dramatically improved under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Administration. This has thus empowered the Ghanaian worker to earn more and enjoy a more meaningful and comfortable livelihood than it was four years ago when the minimum wage was ?2,900. He added that what he was saying can be easily attested to by any worker, who is prepared to be objective.