The firebrand, Franklyn Fiavi Fifi Kwetey, the Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, has torn into shreds the raging cynical debates being waged by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) following the 2010 budget presented by the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffour on Wednesday in Parliament.
The NPP Spokeperson on Economy, Kwaku Kwarteng, on same day on City News claimed sustained increase in economic growth rate under their administration peaked at 7.3 percent in 2008. He therefore accused the government of the NDC of incompetence in the management of the economy leading to a slowdown in the growth rate to 4.9 percent.
But in a swift and sharp rebuttal on same network, Kweku Kwarteng, whose voice was almost lost on air, found himself wanton when the Deputy Finance Minister took him to economic classroom once more on the subject.
The eloquent Hon. Kwetey, after that, referred, suggestively, Mr. Kwarteng, to the hollow nature of the economic policies of the NPP and advised him to come prepared next time.
Mr. Kwarteng, who received longest grilling and drilling of vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament, did not mince words when he described as �cocaine growth� the economic growth of the NPP administration. He alleged that the erstwhile government of Kufuor-led NPP had, for the 8 years, run the economy of the nation with illicit drug money that was why as soon as they were ousted from power the economy came to a standstill. Therefore, he said, their claims of building the economy on sound footing was a fallacy.
He said, �Massive efforts have been put into the economy the reckless NPP left behind. The total national foreign reserve they left could only cover 2 months of imports and it took pragmatic and disciplinary measures of the administration to sanitise the economy.�
The Deputy Minister was optimistic that the economic measures of the government are potent enough to realize the economic emancipation the Ghanaians have been yearning for.
Mr. Kwetey, who was also the Chief Spokesperson for the NDC ahead of the 2008 elections, used the platform of �Setting the Records Straight� to scuttle a deadly media propaganda of the then ruling NPP and its media dogbody, immediately after imposing on the party supporters Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo as their flagbearer at a near bloody Delegates� Conference in Legon in Accra.
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