Paul Adom-Otchere, the host of Good Evening Ghana, has heaped praises on President John Dramani Mahama for his performance so far after his return to office.
According to Adom-Otchere, the optics look good for President Mahama as all micro indicators are coming up strong.
The broadcaster, however, noted that it is early days yet and John Mahama must be given a little more time.
He added that despite his uncertainties about specific programs, the Mahama government’s overall performance has been laudable.
Speaking on the Point of View show on Channel TV, Adom-Otchere stated, “So far, I think it’s early, but in terms of his optics, I think it’s fine, all the micro indicators are coming up strong”.
Adom-Otchere reasoned that the new government tend to spend what the previous government left and therefore called for more time for the government in terms of the economy.
“In terms of economic performance, I think we need to give him [Mahama] a bit of time, but certainly the optics are correct, and certainly he was popularly elected,” he stated.
In a related economic news, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has said he firmly believes Ghana will end 2025 with single-digit inflation.
Ato Forson revealed the country is well ahead of the government’s official projection.
Speaking in an interview on JOY NEWS Thursday, July 24, Ato Forson detailed, “I am of the firm belief that by the end of the year, we will be entering single digits, for a reason”.
“Based on the trajectory, we are now at 13.7%. The Producer Price Inflation, for example, moved from 10-point-something to 5.9% last month. And based on that, I expect that next month inflation will go down, and if it does, then I believe that by the end of December, we should be able to achieve that”.
“As I have said, even though I still maintain the target of 11.9%, I said again in the speech, we’ll be achieving our target ahead of schedule,” he added.
Also, the Bank of Ghana decreased its benchmark policy rate by 300 basis points, from 28% to 25%.
Dr Johnson Asiama, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, revealed the cut was due to improved macroeconomic conditions, easing inflation, and appreciation of the cedi.
Meanwhile, Paul Adom-Otchere, on the Point of View show on Channel TV, also broke his silence after he was detained by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
According to Paul Adom-Otchere, he was not maltreated by anyone, as it was a normal place where the OSP detain Ghanaians.
He revealed that he was in a room with other people, with the facility having basic conditions.
Paul Adom-Otchere detailed, “It’s a normal place they detain every Ghanaian. You are detained with people who are also detained. Nobody maltreated anyone. That is for sure. It’s a state-owned”
“Yes, yes, you will be in a room with other people. It depends on the numbers they have, usually about 25 people, not in the same room. I was in a room with other people.”
He added that the detainees were given basic necessities.
“They give you a mattress, yes, for now, it’s a double mattress, I think, because of the floor, and they give you a blanket; they treat you well. They provide clothes. I wasn’t due for a change of clothes yet because it was overnight. And by mid-day, they said we should get ready,” he explained.
Paul Adom-Octhere also added that access to the outside world was not allowed.
“You can’t contact anyone,” he revealed.
Paul Adom-Otchere further clarified that his supporters were protesting bail terms, not defending wrongdoing.
He added, “All those people whom I said thank you to, who’d expressed concern, I have seen some spin on social media. They were not expressing the concern that Paul Adom-Otchere has done something wrong, and he is above the law, and you cannot touch.
“No! They were expressing concern that the bail conditions that the OSP gave were too harsh and unreasonable, and actually unknown to the jurisprudence,” he explained.