NDC Running Away From Ghana//Cote D’ivoire Comparison-P.K.Sarpong

It is amazing how these NDC activists can change their positions on the same issues so seamlessly and ingeniously that it takes a lot of effort to understand them.

A few months ago, the economy took a nosedive due to the unexpected visit by the deadly coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine.

These extraneous factors, we emphasized, contributed to the economy heading downhill, compelling the Finance Ministry to adopt measures, though not palatable, which were necessary to ultimately reshape the economic situation. 

Our NDC friends would not hear of these reasons adduced for the challenges we faced in the economy. We pointed out to them that countries across the world, including the giants on the global market like the US, UK, Canada, Germany, China and many other nations were all reeling from the negative effects of the pandemic and the war waged on Ukraine by Vladimir Putin. 

Our friends in the NDC rejected these examples, saying we were comparing apples with oranges since those economies we compared ourselves to are not on the African continent, let alone in West Africa.

They pointed us to Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Togo, Benin and other nearby countries. To them, better comparisons could be made when these neighbouring countries are used as parameters. 

Today, many Ghanaians are in Côte d’Ivoire to watch and support the national team, the Black Stars. Our people have discovered that for fuel bought in Ghana at GHC12, the same can be purchased in Côte d’Ivoire for GHC17.

They also say that mobile network signals are terrible. Their networks are unstable and slow as well. It takes more time to download and upload videos there than in Ghana. 

Water is also expensive as compared to Ghana. Bottled water is cheaper in Ghana as compared with that of Côte d’Ivoire. In effect, Ghanaians who have gone to Côte d’Ivoire to support the Black Stars in the ongoing AFCON have said that Ghana maybe facing difficulties in the economy, we are better than Côte d’Ivoire. 

These same NDC elements who were against the practice of comparing our situation with respect to the high costs of products in the developed economies are not happy today because we are comparing ourselves to our neighbouring countries. 

They are unhappy with our comparison to the same countries they asked us to compare ourselves to because things look far better here than in those countries. They asked for it, we are giving it to them so they better embrace it and come to the realization that Ghana is not as hellish as they made it look like.

We maybe in difficulties, things have not gone back to pre-COVID times, but we are turning the corner, things are getting better by the day.

Ghana is better than many of our compatriots, these facts cannot be disputed, but it is also the news our NDC friends do not ever wish to hear. A continuous improvement in the economy spells doom for their chances of winning the 2024 elections.

P.K.Sarpong, Whispers from the Corridors of the Thinking Place.