President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the economic devastation of COVID-19 since the beginning of this year, has been further aggravated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghana has not escaped the economic difficulties as a result of the war and the consequences are being felt in rising living costs at the markets and at fuel stations.
Delivering the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Wednesday, 30 March 2022, the President said the events in Ukraine have a direct impact on Ghanaians living in Ghana.
He explained that “Mr Speaker, 30 per cent of our wheat flour and fertiliser imports come from Russia. Sixty per cent of iron rods and other metal sheets are imported from Ukraine, and almost 20 per cent of Ghana’s manganese is shipped to Ukraine.”
He added that “the bombs might be dropping on cities half a world away but they are hitting our pockets here in Ghana.”
Despite these challenges, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that his government has managed to ensure that fuel supplies have not been disrupted, unlike in several other parts of the world.
He said his government remains alive to its responsibilities to the Ghanaian people adding that the difficulties of the time notwithstanding, “we intend to continue to grow this economy and bring prosperity and that will only happen when we continue to invest in the future.”
