Former President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reiterated his government’s belief that the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it sparked is the reason for their loss in the 2024 elections.
Speaking during a book launch for former Nigerian head of State, General Ibrahim Babginda, Akufo-Addo echoed the tired old refrain Ghanaians have heard ad nauseam over the past eight years – that is COVID-19 caused the economic crisis the country fell into.
According to him, the economic crisis triggered by COVID led to protests against his rule which made his government unpopular and eventually, led to their loss in the 2024 elections.
Akufo-Addo blames economic crisis and protests for his government’s unpopularity #3NewsGH https://t.co/kUrf293eWX
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) February 21, 2025
However, netizens who reacted to his claim disagreed, noting that Ghana’s problems were caused by the NPP’s own greed and corruption.
“Aside him being reckless and grossly corrupt, he fails to take accountability. Did “economic” crises cause the $58mill dollar hole? Did the “economic” crises cause the over $100mill SML scandal? Did the “economic” crises cause the $12mill non-existent pualugu dam? He should stfu,” one angry fan wrote.
Another said: “He should blame himself, his mismanagement and corruption brought about the crisis… Everything and everybody else is the problem and not themselves,”
Throughout their time in office, the NPP presided over one of the worst economies in Ghanaian history. Inflation was through the roof and the cost of living completely ballooned, plunging many Ghanaians into poverty.
Despite the hardships, the government refused to take any responsibility, blaming everything on COVID-19 and the Russian-Ukraine war. Ghanaians replied by handing them the largest ever electoral defeat in the history of the 4th Republic.