We Saw It And Complained But Akufo-Addo Ignored Us – Franklin Cudjoe React To World Bank Report

Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, has taken aim at the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo after a World Bank report highlighted long-standing weaknesses behind Ghana’s economic crisis.

Cudjoe said the country’s economic problems did not suddenly emerge in 2022, insisting that signs of poor management had been evident for years. He accused the previous government of ignoring public concerns despite warnings about the country’s economic direction.

The IMANI Africa president also raised questions about the use of nearly $2 billion in funds made available to Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic to help manage the health emergency and cushion its effects on the economy.

He alleged that the government failed to manage a substantial part of the money properly, claiming that much of it went to people connected to the ruling party rather than being used for the intended public benefit.

“They raided the accounts and shared the money mostly among party faithfuls,” Cudjoe alleged.

He cited a special audit of the COVID-19 expenditure, saying the findings indicated that only 40% of the funds received had been properly applied to the pandemic response. He questioned whether the remaining amount had been used in ways that produced clear benefits for Ghanaians.

The criticism comes after JoyNews reported on the World Bank’s 2025 Policy Notes on Ghana. According to the report, the Bank challenged the Akufo-Addo government’s position that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war were the main causes of the economic crisis experienced in 2022.

The World Bank reportedly argued that the global shocks had exposed deeper problems within Ghana’s economy, pointing instead to “deep structural vulnerabilities and precarious macroeconomic conditions.”

Cudjoe welcomed the assessment as confirmation of concerns raised by sections of the public before the crisis reached its peak. He argued that better financial management and greater openness by the government could have reduced the severity of the economic difficulties.

“We lived it, saw it, complained, and Nana Akufo-Addo ignored us,” he said.

His comments have renewed debate over the handling of pandemic-related funds and the responsibility of government officials for Ghana’s economic challenges. Many citizens continue to call for transparency and accountability as the country works through the effects of the crisis.