In a heated exchange on Metro TV’s “Good Morning Ghana,” Sammy Gyamfi, the Director of Communications for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), decisively bested Dr. Frank Bannor, a prominent communicator for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in a debate on economic issues.

The confrontation unfolded as host Randy Abbey questioned Dr. Bannor about the high inflation rate recorded in Ghana in 2022, which peaked at 54%.

The question flows from recent 20.9% inflation data released by the Ghana Statistics Service.

Dr. Bannor attributed the inflation surge to external factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

However, Abbey countered that these factors did not fully account for the dramatic rise in inflation for that particular year, suggesting that excessive money printing by the Central Bank to cover government deficits played a significant role.

Dr. Bannor’s attempts to deflect blame and defend the NPP’s economic record were undermined when Abbey indicated that inflation was not similarly exacerbated in other years like 2020 or 2021.

Sammy Gyamfi seized the moment to challenge Dr. Bannor’s arguments, criticizing him for a lack of understanding of fiscal policy and the law guiding the Bank of Ghana.

The debate grew more intense as Dr. Bannor dismissed Gyamfi’s comparison of Ghana’s economic situation with that of Ivory Coast.

Gyamfi retorted, questioning Dr. Bannor’s endorsement of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s economic strategies and accusing him of intellectual dishonesty.

According to Gyamfi, that analogy was started by Dr Bawumia, therefore, it cannot be said that Dr Bannor is more knowledgeable in economics than the NPP Presidential Candidate.

The 20.9% inflation announced by the GSS is still when compared to other countries and that it is not worth celebrating

Dr. Bannor faltered when discussing the intricacies of fiscal policy versus the Bank of Ghana Act and failed to accurately address the extent and impact of the funds received during the pandemic.

Gyamfi capitalized on these gaps in Dr. Bannor’s knowledge, using them to underscore perceived failures in the NPP’s economic management since 2017.

Gyamfi’s performance in the debate was marked by his ability to articulate the failings of the NPP government, especially in managing inflation and economic policies, further asserting the NDC’s stance on better economic governance.

The exchange not only highlighted Dr. Bannor’s shortcomings but also reinforced Sammy Gyamfi’s position as a formidable opponent in Ghanaian political discourse.