Ghana is in reverse gear, not first - Kuranchie

President John Mahama, on Friday, told his critics to be patient as he steers the affairs of the economy.

He implored them to tone down on their criticisms because the bus of his administration is currently in its "first gear". He hoped to move the economy to the fourth gear so as to ensure a better Ghana for the citizenry.

Addressing a gathering at Awutu Senya in the Central region, the President pledged his commitment to accelerate the progress of the economy. This he promised, in an attempt to end the incessant vituperations rained on his government by critics.

Despite his assurance, critics like the Managing Editor of the Daily Searchlight are yet to pay heed to the words of the President or may not comply with his directives unless there is a major change in the country.

Speaking in relation to the President's comments on Oman FM, Ken Kuranchie, Editor-In-Chief of the Daily Searchlight, blamed the woes of the economy on President Mahama and his government.

On the contrary, he held strongly that President Mahama and his government are rather 'burning the clutch' instead of his political rhetoric that his administration bus is traveling in the "first gear."

“It’s only in Africa that you can hear the President make such a preposterous statement. It’s only in a banana Republic," he stated, adding that with the Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur in place, the economy can be best said to be moving in reverse.

According to him, it is only in a 'banana Republic' that such remarks by the President will be adhered to. This is because, in his earnest view, the President has failed to resolve the energy crisis in the country amidst other challenges.

He also believed President Mahama has ruined the trust and confidence investors had in the economy due to the way national issues are handled by his government.

He further bemoaned the rot in the oil sector and challenged President Mahama to reveal the projects that his government has so far undertaken to revamp the sector.

In his submissions, he asserted that “so far, about three, four years now that we’ve been producing oil; nobody can point to a single project delivered by the oil. The oil money is just disappearing. Added to this, what is our public debt status now? Ghc 43.9 billion as from Ghc 9 billion; just loans. In just five years, John Mahama has contracted over GHC 33 billion cedis in loans.”