Deputy minister’s comment on poverty in Ghana misrepresented – Local Government Ministry

The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development (MLGRD) has clarified that a recent report misrepresenting Deputy Minister Ekow Vincent Assafuah's comments on poverty levels in Ghana compared to the United States is incorrect.

The ministry stated that the publication by TV3 misreported the Deputy Minister's comments made during an interview. He aimed to highlight the government's achievements amidst global challenges, which Ghana, like any other country, is not immune to.

"The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development wishes to address a recent news item published by TV3, which misrepresented the comments made by the Deputy Minister, Hon. Vincent Ekow Assafuah, during an interview. The article inaccurately suggested that the Deputy Minister claimed poverty levels in Ghana are far better than those in the United States.

"During the interview, Hon. Assafuah primarily focused on discussing the achievements of the Ministry. When questioned about the economic hardships faced by Ghanaians and their ability to afford basic needs, the Deputy Minister acknowledged these as challenging times. He emphasized that Ghana, like many other nations, is not immune to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine war," the ministry said in a statement dated June 26, 2024.

"The Deputy Minister further elaborated that economic hardship is a global issue, not unique to Ghana. To provide context, he mentioned that 37.5 million people in the United States are living in poverty. This was intended to illustrate that even highly developed countries are experiencing significant economic challenges," the statement continued.

While urging the media to maintain accuracy and context in reporting, the MLGRD reaffirmed its commitment to improving the living conditions and addressing the economic challenges faced by the nation.

Below is the ministry's full statement and the video of the Deputy Minister's interview: