Former President John Dramani Mahama, the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has emphatically rejected assertions by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that his previous administration left behind an economic mess.

Addressing a town hall meeting in Tamale on Tuesday as part of his Building Ghana Tour in the Northern Region, Mahama asserted that the NPP inherited a stabilized economy upon assuming office.

Mahama refuted claims of economic mismanagement by providing comparative data on key economic indicators.

He highlighted that when he left office, the debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio stood at 57%, which was below the recommended threshold for middle-income countries by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

However, under the current administration, this ratio has soared to over 100%.

Moreover, Mahama cited inflation rates, noting that during his tenure, inflation stood at 15.5%, while it surged to 54% under the NPP-led government before dropping to 30%. He also criticized the decline in cocoa production, indicating a drastic reduction from 960,000 metric tonnes under the NDC administration to under 500,000 metric tonnes under the current government.

“When I left office, the debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 57 per cent and the optimum GDP for middle income countries as recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is 60 per cent,” he stated.

“My administration was under the recommended debt to GDP but today, the debt to GDP is more than 100 percent,” he said.

Highlighting achievements of his administration, Mahama emphasized the establishment of key financial instruments such as the Stabilisation Fund, crucial for navigating economic challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Ghana Infrastructural Investment Fund, which supported infrastructure development projects such as the Agenda 111 hospital initiative.

Mahama underscored the strategic acquisition of two new oil fields during his tenure, aimed at tripling oil revenue for the nation. He contrasted this with the NDC's accomplishments, achieved with only one oil field, the Jubilee field.

"With all these, how did I leave a mess? The constant talk of Mahama left us a mess is a myth and not true. They created the mess themselves," Mahama asserted, challenging the narrative propagated by the NPP regarding his administration's economic legacy.

The former President's remarks at the town hall meeting aimed to provide clarity on his administration's economic record and counter criticisms leveled against him by political opponents.

As Ghana gears up for the 2024 elections, Mahama's defense of his economic stewardship sets the stage for a spirited debate on competing visions for the nation's future.