Manasseh Azure Awuni has sent a strong worded response to Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko for attacking former President John Dramani Mahama over his comments on government’s intent to increase VAT.

The former President in a tweet wrote; “The Ghanaian business sector has never experienced such difficult times in the history of the 4th Republic. Akufo-Addo's proposed new taxes would cripple businesses further and also defeat his much-touted mantra of from taxation to production."

In response to Mahama’s criticism, the NPP stalwart asked him to shut up because he has “no right” to criticise the NPP government, which according to him, is trying hard to clean the mess he created during his tenure.

Mr Otchere-Darko, said, “Certainly, the reckless way the NDC ran down the economy in 8yrs (lest we forget), called for creative and intelligent measures to satisfy three things: manage the debt crisis; keep the state machinery running and; deliver on your own promises. The Akufo-Addo government found a way in 2017, and will continue to find ways that will keep faith with the people of Ghana. Be in no doubt. And, please, can somebody out there tell John Mahama to shush! It is not his fault, though. The NPP has been kind to him on the havoc he caused to the economy”.

In reaction to Otchere-Darko’s comments, however, the award winning investigative journalist cautioned the government to stop reminding Ghanaians of the failures of the previous government and focus on fulfilling their campaign promises.

He said, the constant blaming of the former President for Ghana’s economic challenges exposes the failures of the current government, thereby making many well-meaning Ghanaians who believed in Akufo-Addo, lose hope in his administration.

“Comparing Akufo-Addo's regime to the failures of the Mahama era is an admission of failure on the part of Akufo-Addo. To blame the hardships of today on what happened yesterday is a lame excuse, because Akufo-Addo and his team told us in 2016 to get rid of Mahama so that they would fix our country. His promises were not conditional,” Manasseh wrote in a Facebook post.

Read Manasseh’s full statement below

Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, my good friend, you know my position on the Mahama administration has never been hidden. My ratings for that regime are very low and I stated that on countless occasions when he was in office. But Mahama is responsible for his failures and successes, and Akufo-Addo is responsible for his. Comparing Akufo-Addo's regime to the failures of the Mahama era is an admission of failure on the part of Akufo-Addo. To blame the hardships of today on what happened yesterday is a lame excuse, because Akufo-Addo and his team told us in 2016 to get rid of Mahama so that they would fix our country. His promises were not conditional. He did not speak with water in his mouth. He spoke clearly and we heard him. And he did not speak with strong wine in his head. He was sober. He knew and believed what he was saying. And we believed him and gave him our mandate.

But Nana Akufo-Addo is yet to provide that leadership spark that some of us anticipated. His no-nonsense disposition, which made some of us believe he could use to whip this wayward nation into line, appears to be deceptive and overhyped. There is nothing transformational and inspirational about what we have seen so far. Please, I know about free education, but do you remember under Mahama I wrote an article saying any idiot could borrow, build and brag? Well, it doesn't take a genius to dip his hands into the national purse or increase taxes to pay fees for high school students.

So instead of continually making reference to what some of you said was a monumental failure of the Mahama administration, concentrate on how to move this nation forward. Let's not say it's too early to want to see concrete action on the part of Akufo-Addo. A chick that would eventually grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it is hatched. But I have watched very hard and do not see any glimmer of hope.

Some of us still see the gloomy clouds of corruption, hopelessness and hardship that took over the skies of our miserable Republic in 2016. Those clouds are getting even darker. Many people are losing hope in Akufo-Addo. And in Ghana. All the independent-minded people I know, who had very high hopes in Candidate Akufo-Addo in 2016, now sing a unanimous chorus: "We thought he would be different."

Akufo-Addo may not have been worse than Mahama, but some of us are not doing comparison. Each leader comes with his own expectations and we will hold him to the standards he espoused and the hopes he aroused.

So leave John Mahama alone and use the effort you and your people spend in reminding us about his flaws to help Nana Akufo-Addo and his team to save this nation. The government's accusations of wrongdoings in the Mahama regime are now becoming very annoying and irritating to the ears. As long as the alleged criminals of the Mahama regime are walking as free men and women, the NPP's continuous accusations against them will always sound as ridiculous as the musings of Kofi Kagyingyi, one of the most celebrated drunkards to ever live in Kete-Krachi.

Please, don't ask me for further details because on Monday, my Folder will contain more.

Here's your friend and citizen,

Manasseh Azure Awuni.