Economic crisis, protests eroded my government’s popularity — Akufo-Addo

Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has acknowledged that economic hardships and widespread public protests significantly eroded his government’s popularity.

Speaking at the launch of a book by former Nigerian military president General Ibrahim Babangida, Akufo-Addo reflected on the economic turbulence that defined his presidency, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He admitted that the crisis, worsened by global challenges, led to public dissatisfaction and mass demonstrations.

“We faced a major economic crisis, and with the world’s capital markets closed to us, we ended up going to the IMF. Not an easy decision to make. The economic difficulties brought people onto the streets,” he said.

He noted that while the protests were not as intense as the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) riots of the 1980s, they were serious enough to undermine public confidence in his administration.

Former President Akufo-Addo explained that limited access to international capital markets left his government with few options, ultimately forcing it to seek financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stabilise the economy.

Despite these challenges, he defended his administration’s decisions, stating that while they were difficult, they were necessary to restore economic stability.

He urged future leaders to learn from the experience and implement policies that strengthen Ghana’s economic resilience in times of global uncertainty.