Former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and current MP, Abena Osei Asare, has sharply criticised the government’s claims of economic recovery, asserting that the lived realities of Ghanaians paint a contrasting picture.
Speaking during the debate on the 2025 mid-year budget review, Madam Osei Asare said many citizens continue to struggle under a rising cost of living, despite the government’s optimistic macroeconomic projections.
“Mr Speaker, ask about the prices of plain rice, not aromatic rice. Ask about cassava,” she said, emphasising the disconnect between economic data and market realities.
She took aim at the government’s overreliance on macroeconomic indicators, arguing they fail to capture the true extent of hardship facing ordinary people. According to her, economic stability must be felt at the household level, not just in figures presented in Parliament.
Madam Osei Asare also highlighted inconsistencies in the government’s policy direction. She questioned how the Finance Minister could claim efforts to lower food prices, while introducing transport policies likely to cause fare increases of 30 to 40%.
“On one hand, he speaks of increasing food production, but on the other hand, he introduces measures that will raise transport fares,” she said.
Earlier, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson had touted declining prices and improved fiscal stability as evidence of a recovering economy. But Madam Osei Asare called for citizen-focused policies that would convert such gains into real economic relief for Ghanaians.
“We need practical, people-centred interventions — not just policy optimism,” she concluded.
Investigative Journalist & News Editor:
Contact: Editor@wesleyannews.com
Source: Wesleyannews.com
Do you have a story to share? Send it to our editorial team at editor@wesleyannews.com