A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has pointed fingers at the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, for being majorly responsible for Ghana's economic woes.

According to him, critics of NPP's Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative must shift attention and hold the former president accountable for the challenges brought to the country.

He added that Free Senior High School (SHS) is not draining the public purse but certain 'wicked energy deals' granted under Mahama's administration.

In a post on the X platform, he indicated that the country could save three billion Ghana cedis (GHS 3,000,000,000) out of the annual budget of 137 billion Ghana cedis (GHS 137,000,000,000) if the current government decides to abolish the Free SHS policy.

He cited a video by World Bank Director, Pierre Frank Laporte, where he attributed Ghana's deteriorating economy to the expensive Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) it inked.

"Free SHS isn't draining the country. If Govt cancels free SHS, Govt will only save 3bn out of 137bn of our annual budget. According to the World Bank Director, what is costing our economy is the wicked energy deals Mahama signed which demand that the government must find $1 billion (15 billion cedis) every year to pay for light we don't need or use," he wrote.

The World Bank Director added that Ghana is paying more for power than it should be, even for electricity not used, due to the terms under the PPA contract.

"The kind of PPAs are expensive, Ghana is paying for the electricity that is not even being produced. You have double capacity. Yes, over time, usage will improve, so your excess capacity will go down. But the fact is in the last few years, Ghana entered into some PPAs that were the wrong types, in our view and at the wrong rates at the wrong time prices and today you are paying dearly for it".

Between 2013 and 2016, the Government together with Independent Power Producers entered into “take or pay” agreement during a period of intense energy crisis in the country.

Free SHS isn't draining the country.If Govt cancels free SHS, Govt will only save 3bn out of 137bn of our annual budget.According to the World Bank Director, what is costing our economy is the wicked energy deals Mahama signed which demands that government must find $1 billion… pic.twitter.com/tdebV4sbHe— #GhanaRemembers (@GhanaPoliticalU) August 14, 2024

Meanwhile, the World Bank has called on the government to revise some parts of the Power Purchase Agreements to revive the ailing economy.

“The fact is Ghana entered into some PPAs that were wrong. These types, in our view, were at the wrong rate and at the wrong prices,” he said. “And today the country is being billed for many of these wrong PPAs.”