President John Dramani Mahama on Friday used his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to Parliament to highlight economic strengthening under his leadership, in a clear reference to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s 2017 statement that the NPP government had “arrested the cedi” and “handed the keys to the IGP” for safekeeping.
Fulfilling Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution, which requires the President to address Parliament on the state of the nation at the session’s opening, Mahama declared: “We did not arrest the dollar; we strengthened the cedi to put up a good fight against other currencies.”
He emphasized that his government prioritized sustainable stability and fiscal discipline which he credited crediting for the cedi’s 40.7% appreciation against the US dollar, alongside gains against the pound and euro.
Bawumia’s 2017 comment, made during the first 100 days of the Akufo-Addo administration, became a frequent point of criticism from opponents when the cedi later depreciated sharply.
Parliament will debate the SONA in the coming days, with the Minority expected to react to the president’s statement.