No significant change! What happened to the gold, oil and others? – Catholic Bishops’ President quizzes govt
Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the president of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, has voiced his displeasure with the status of the country’s economy as it is.
He said there’s not much to be happy about the nation’s precarious economic situation, despite its abundance of mineral riches and oil output.
“There have been no significant positive changes in the economy since we became an oil-producing country. What happened to the gold and other mineral resources? Why are most of our roads in such a deplorable state? Why do we keep going to the IMF? Why do we keep borrowing so much when we are a rich nation?” he quizzed.
These remarks were spoken by Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi on Monday, November 13, 2023, at the opening of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference plenary meeting, which was place at the Sunyani Diocese.
He also chastised succeeding administrations for the notable downturn of the nation and the rising levels of corruption.
“Both governments keep borrowing, and we are now in a deep financial crisis. Why are we in this economic and financial quagmire? The massive uncontrolled corruption is suffocating the nation. It appears corruption is legalized. What should Ghanaians do since the existing form of democracy help only a few and leaves the majority behind? What about the impunity and arrogance of some politicians and their defense of corruption?”
“Should the constitution not be changed or bettered for it to work for all Ghanaians instead of for a few? Should the legal system not be re-equipped to uproot corruption? What about our Parliament where the interest of the people is sacrificed for personal and party interests? Why have we not implemented the findings of the Constitutional Review Committee?
“Can the governments explain to us why we are in this economic mess? What explanations can the two political parties give to Ghanaians for the unfavourable agreements we sign on our oil, minerals, power generation etc.? Countries that have these resources in abundance are rich. Why do we remain poor? Ghanaians no longer accept the old explanations that the Governments of Ghana have been giving.”
He stated that politicians should use the political upheavals occurring around the continent as a wake-up call to amend the constitution and the legal system amicably within a democratic framework, guaranteeing that the government works for the benefit of all Ghanaians.