General News of Monday, 25 April 2016

Source: Today Newspaper

NDC borrowing Ghana back to HIPC - Nduom

Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom

2012 Presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Party, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom says the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken Ghana back to the days leading to the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt forgiveness.

According to the business mogul, the insatiable appetite of the NDC government to borrow has landed the country in high debt levels that would affect the country years to come if nothing is done about it.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the launch of GN Assurance, Dr Nduom asserts that the ruling government has enough experience from their times in office in the past to avoid such reckless borrowings.

"Interestingly enough, the same people PNDC then NDC1 and NDC2 they borrowed a lot and then at some point we [had] to go declare HIPC, our debtors forgave us tonnes of money and then some people said the debt levels are too low so let us go borrow some more."

Dr. Nduom wants government to be bold and face the economic difficulties while finding a homegrown solution rather than running to the Britton Woods for financial assistance that would harm the economy in the long-run.

"At some point, you got to accept that yes we will suffer, but it’s better we suffer now and learn to live within our means than to go borrow to showcase projects of several types so we can feel good about many things and postpone the inevitable.’’

The politician/businessman wants government to work strenuously hard to create wealth for the country since some of the handouts given by the foreign countries are demeaning to the nation.