President John Dramani Mahama has expressed strong confidence in Ghana’s economic recovery, declaring the nation’s economy resilient enough to weather external shocks despite growing global uncertainties.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for a 24-hour economy model market at the Dormaa-Ahenkro Tuesday Market in the Bono Region, President Mahama assured Ghanaians that the economy remains stable and well-positioned to absorb the impact of international tensions, including the Israel-United States conflict with Iran.
“I am absolutely confident our economy will endure such external pressures,” President Mahama stated, emphasising that sustaining recent economic gains is crucial to safeguarding the country against future shocks.
“Without a resilient economy, any external shock will have severe consequences, and it’s therefore important that we sustain the gains made over the past year,” he added.
The President highlighted significant improvements in macroeconomic stability, noting that inflation has dropped sharply from 23.4 per cent to 3.3 per cent. He also pointed to the Ghana cedi’s recovery, which has strengthened from between GH¢16 and GH¢17 to approximately GH¢10.70 against the US dollar.
The visit forms part of the President’s ‘Regional Accountability Series’, during which he will address a durbar of chiefs and people of Bono, inspect ongoing GETFund educational projects, and assess progress on key road infrastructure, including the Jinijini-Sampa Road and the Sunyani Outer Ring Road.
Traditional council commends economic management
Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, Paramount Chief of the Dormaa Traditional Area and President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, commended the government for its sound economic management, particularly improvements in the foreign exchange regime.
“I know you have been in office for just over a year now, but you have done well, especially with the forex situation, and Ghanaians appreciate that,” the traditional leader noted.
He also praised the government’s “Big Push” road infrastructure programme, citing visible progress on projects across the region, including the Sunyani Outer Ring Road, Berekum-Sampa Road, Berekum-Seikwa Road, Sunyani-Abesim dualisation project, Wamfie-Gambia Road, and Dormaa-Nkrankwanta Road.
Calls for completion of stalled projects
Despite the commendation, the paramount chief urged government to expedite work on stalled projects, particularly the Dormaa-Ahenkro-Aboabo Road under the cocoa roads programme, which began in 2013.
He also appealed for rehabilitation of the 12-kilometre Dormaa-Ahenkro-Gonokrom Road linking Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, noting that while the Ivorian side remains in good condition, the Ghanaian stretch is deplorable.
Additionally, Osagyefo Badu II called for the resumption and completion of the Agenda 111 District Hospital project at Amasu and other parts of the country initiated by the previous administration, as well as expanded infrastructure at both the main campus of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) and its Dormaa-Ahenkro campus.
