- Oppong Nkrumah explains why government spending increased during COVID lockdown
- Emphasizes revenue losses due to closures in Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi
- Criticizes opposition for politicizing pandemic spending
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi and former Minister for Information, has responded to claims that the government mismanaged COVID-19 relief funds, offering a detailed explanation of the economic decisions made during the pandemic.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah refuted allegations of reckless spending, emphasizing the economic pressures the government faced during the 2020 lockdowns.
“There are claims that we spent COVID funds without accountability. Let me clarify: Ghana’s economy is heavily dependent on what we call the ‘Golden Triangle’—Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi. These cities were completely shut down during the lockdown, and for nearly a month, revenue generation came to a standstill,” he explained.
He highlighted the difficulty of raising domestic revenue during the crisis:
“If we had attempted to tax the economy during that period, it would’ve taken a full year before we saw meaningful returns. Yet the government still had to pay salaries to teachers and public sector workers, and support citizens. Unlike countries like the U.S. that implemented relief programs such as FELO, in Ghana we provided free water, electricity, and continued salary payments.”
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah also defended the introduction of the COVID-19 Levy, stating it was necessary to address the growing debt burden and fund economic recovery:
“When the economy took a hit, we turned to the IMF, and introduced the COVID Levy to help stabilize things. The NDC, while in opposition, promised to scrap the levy. But now in government, they’ve maintained it. Why? Because it’s still contributing to the economy.”
He pushed back against political criticisms, noting he was personally targeted over the management of COVID-19 funds:
“At the time, some accused me of mismanaging funds, but the same policies they criticized are now benefiting the country.”
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah also reacted to President John Mahama’s remarks during the 80th United Nations General Assembly on September 23, 2025, where the President acknowledged that COVID-19 had set the global economy back by two decades, as part of his new “Accra Reset” initiative on African health sovereignty.
“I welcome the President’s admission. But it’s curious—while in opposition, he downplayed the pandemic’s impact on the global economy. Now, from the world stage, he acknowledges it set us all back 20 years. That’s exactly what we said back then.”
