Former President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, October 27, 2022, addressed the nation on the dire economic situation of the country.

In a paper titled ‘Building the Ghana we want’, the former leader touched on the stark reality of the country’s economic woes and the ramifications for the ordinary Ghanaian.

Outlining solutions to save the country from the economic mess, Mr Mahama said cutting cost, reducing waste, and spending wisely should be the way to go.

He intimated that some austerity measures ought to be taken including reducing the size of government, scrapping or merging needless secretariats and agencies, and cutting the Budget of the Office of Government Machinery among others.

“The budget of the Office of Government Machinery has ballooned over the last six years from a little over GH¢700 million to GH¢ 3.1 billion in 2022.

“Expenditure rationalization, to be successful, must first start in the President’s office. Substantial savings of GH¢ 1 billion or more can be made by slashing the budget of the Office of Government Machinery.”

The 2020 flagbearer of the NDC also backed calls for the removal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta insisting the President’s appeal for him to stay to superintend the IMF negotiation is untenable.

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