Former Sekondi MP Andrew Egyapa Mercer has defended the economic record of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, arguing that his administration took critical decisions that helped Ghana navigate one of its most challenging economic periods.

Mr Mercer made the comments after Ghana officially completed its IMF Extended Credit Facility programme on Monday, July 27, 2026.

In a Facebook post, the former Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture said the Akufo-Addo administration inherited an economy facing significant pressures but implemented reforms that led to signs of recovery before the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said by 2019, Ghana had recorded improvements in economic growth, inflation management and investor confidence before the pandemic triggered unprecedented global challenges.

Mr Mercer highlighted the government’s response to COVID-19, quoting former President Akufo-Addo’s statement: “We know how to bring the economy back to life. What we do not know is how to bring people back to life.”

According to him, the decision to expand healthcare capacity and provide support to households and businesses was necessary, although it contributed to increased fiscal pressures.

He said Ghana’s eventual decision to seek IMF support was influenced by a combination of domestic fiscal challenges and external shocks, adding that the US$3 billion programme required difficult but necessary reforms.

Mr Mercer argued that Ghana’s exit from the IMF programme should be seen as a collective national effort involving successive governments.

“The current administration deserves credit for concluding it,” he said, but added that “history must be precise” in recognising the contributions of those who took difficult decisions during the economic crisis.

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Egyapa Mercer credits Akufo-Addo administration for Ghana’s IMF recovery path