Government’s spokesperson on Economy, Manasseh Atta-Boahen, has dared those blaming the government for mismanaging the economy hence the Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP), to provide an alternative to restructure the country’s debt.
According to him, although those he described as naysayers are saying that the DDEP could have been avoided, they cannot also mention what other option could be considered.
He made this known when he joined the discussion on Movement in the morning show on Wontumi Radio/Movement TV.
“It’s just rather unfortunate that we get to politicize everything in this country. But the thing, if you look at our debt portfolios and the interest we are paying as a country, it dates back as far as 1980, when I wasn’t born yet”, he explained to Kwaku Dawuro.
Adding that due to the fluctuating of the exchange rate, paying debts in dollar increases your debt stock.
“As for the critics, all they are saying are political talks. Apart from blaming government for mismanagement and reckless borrowing, what ese can they say”, he quizzed.
Adding that when these same people are asked what other alternative the government can consider in order to restructure the country’s debt stock, they will have no alternative to suggest- stressing that It’s just their regular cheap political talk.
“As government we know that some people have genuine concern. The thing is our debt and its interest consume almost all our tax revenue. Hence, if we don’t take drastic measures it will get to a point where we would have to borrow to pay salaries, construct roads, hospitals among others”, he furthered.
In conclusion he said that “if they have other things to suggest that we can do differently from the Domestic Debt Exchange Program, they should suggest”.