Wa, July 7, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Sunday criticised the performance of the economy, blaming the situation on corruption and inefficient management by the government. This, he said, is evidenced by the massive debt the government had built up within its two-and-a-half-year in office. He said while the former NDC government left office after eight years in power, with a debt of 41 trillion cedis, the ruling NPP government has so far contracted 23 trillion cedis debt and warned that if care is not taken it could hit the 100 trillion cedis mark.

Flt-Lt Rawlings was addressing a rally organised by the NDC at the Wa Wanwang Park at which the party's new membership card was launched. He called on Ghanaians to, at least put in their very minimum to prevent the economy from total collapse so that when the NDC is back to power in the 2004 general elections its task of salvaging the economy would not be impossibility. Flt-Lt Rawlings likened the present situation of the economy to a ship that is drifting in the seas without a map to direct it as to where it should go.

Earlier, launching the new membership cards, Dr Josiah Aryeh, General Secretary of the party, urged supporters of the NDC to make sure that they acquire their cards as that as that was the only way the strength and membership of the party could be ascertained. Other speakers included Alhaji Iddrisu Mahama, a former Minister of Defence, Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader in Parliament and Dr Ben Kumbuor, MP for Lawra/Nandom.