Kwaku Kwarteng, former Deputy Finance Minister, clarified that his recent article, which sparked widespread debate, was not a direct critique of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government but rather an internal discussion aimed at the party’s members.
In an interview on Accra-based Joy News’ PM Express, Kwaku Kwarteng, who is also the MP for Obuasi West, stated that his article was meant for NPP platforms to shape the party’s communication with the public. He mentioned that the article, has led to misunderstandings and misinterpretations that he felt compelled to address.
“There were other internal engagements that I would rather keep quiet for now, but this particular one was for the NPP platforms. I was hoping that it would shape our own communication with the public,” he said.
“If it had not come out and generated this kind of debate, you probably would have heard other NPP people articulating it, and it would not have been known that I probably started this.”
Mr. Kwarteng expressed concern over Ghana’s current trajectory, warning that continued mismanagement could jeopardize the country’s democracy. He criticized the political culture of glorifying past achievements and making grand promises, arguing that politics should focus on the future and the well-being of the nation.
“At the same time, a political party must paint its opponents in the worst possible light. We have mastered this art, and in the process, we have forgotten that politics should be about the future of our children and our motherland. We have reduced election campaigns to bitter struggles between competitors seeking power for the wrong reasons.”
He compared Ghana’s economic management to a Ponzi scheme, attributing current economic challenges to decades of poor governance and political mismanagement. He emphasized that since independence, Ghana has often spent beyond its means, relying on borrowing to cover deficits, and many expenditures have been poorly prioritized.
Despite the sensational headlines, Kwarteng stressed that his message was not an attack on his party but a broader critique aimed at the entire political class. He reiterated points he had made in Parliament about reducing government expenditure, stabilizing the currency, and allowing the private sector to generate wealth.
Kwaku Kwarteng concluded by urging the NPP to lead the conversation on political reform, asserting that the party has the capacity to address these issues sincerely and effectively.
“I am not just talking about the NPP; I am speaking to the political class and hoping that the NPP will lead that conversation because I know the NPP more than any other political party. I think we have the capacity to digest this, own it, and put it out in a sincere way,” he concluded.
