Mr Bernard Oduro Takyi (BOT), a chartered economist and a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has questioned President Nana Akufo-Addo's recent acceptance of responsibility for the economy. 

BOT noted in the past seven years, the president consistently credited Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia for economic achievements, making the sudden change noteworthy.

During an interview on Accra 100.5 FM's mid-day news on February 28, 2024, BOT expressed skepticism about the president's decision to take the blame for the ailing economy. 

He highlighted the president had previously heaped accolades on Dr Bawumia, who leads the Economic Management Team.

The catalyst for this scrutiny was President Akufo-Addo's statement to Parliament during his last State of the Nation address on Tuesday. 

The president acknowledged his role in the economy, a marked departure from his usual practice. 

Recently, Dr Bawumia, expressing his vision for Ghana as the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, referred to himself as a "driver's mate," emphasising he was not the primary force in decision-making and implementation regarding to economy. This drew criticism from the opposition.

BOT emphasised the need for the president to provide a comprehensive explanation of how the country arrived at its current economic state. 

He asserted that if President Akufo-Addo was willing to accept blame, he should also acknowledge any mismanagement that may have contributed to the economic challenges, as opposed to attributing them solely to external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.