Eugene Arhin to Catholic bishops: Akufo-Addo is still protecting the public purse

The director of communications in the Office of the President, Eugene Arhin, has described claims by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference that Nana Akufo-Addo has reneged on his promise to protect the public purse as “baseless”.

The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Reverend Philip Naameh, speaking at this year’s plenary assembly of the Catholic Church in Wa, accused the president of failing to honour his promise to preserve the public purse.

“Though poverty stares us in the face, it appears lost to those with power, the expressed commitment of the president of the Republic to protect the public purse – a promise that citizens welcomed – seems to be an illusion now,” Naameh noted.

“Are those managing the public purse not concerned about [the] waste and misapplication of resources that belong to all Ghanaians? Can this be referred to as irresponsible use of power or the lack of compassion and empathy?” he asked.

Reacting to the claims at a media briefing at Jubilee House on Thursday (11 November), Arhin said the assertions are false.

“Of particular interest to us at the presidency are the comments made by the Catholic bishops to the effect that, I quote, ‘The expressed commitment of the President of the Republic to protect the public purse – a promise that citizens welcomed – seems to be an illusion now’.

Tolerant of divergent views
“Inasmuch as this administration is extremely tolerant of divergent views and welcomes criticisms of its works, we believe that this criticism should be well founded and grounded in fact, as it is the only way an honest conversation devoid of malaise and propaganda can be held.

“You all recollect the president took the Oath of Office on 7 January 2017 and again on 7 January 2021, and on both occasions he pledged to protect the public purse. And that is exactly what he has done and he continues to do,” Arhin stressed.