Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the NPP MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi and former Minister of Information, made a pointed appeal during an interview on Asempa FM’s ‘Ekosii Sen’ program on Friday, February 27, 2026 (the same day as President Mahama’s State of the Nation Address). He urged President John Mahama and Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to look beyond official statistics and macroeconomic indicators when assessing the state of the economy and public welfare.
He advised them to ignore or not overly rely on the statistics presented to them (e.g., reports of inflation drops to 3.8%, cedi appreciation, debt reduction, fiscal surpluses, and job creation highlighted in the SONA and related government claims). Instead, they should prioritize “what’s on the ground” — the actual lived experiences, hardships, and sentiments of ordinary Ghanaians.
Oppong Nkrumah emphasized that people are not feeling the positive changes touted in official data; many still face high living costs, economic pressures, and other challenges despite the reported improvements.
He called on the leaders to go out and meet directly with the people, engage them, and ask about their real experiences rather than relying solely on top-down reports or data that may paint an overly optimistic picture.
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Drawing on his experience, he stated that he served as Information Minister for 7 years (under the previous NPP administration) and knows from firsthand knowledge how statistics can sometimes disconnect from ground realities, public perception, and day-to-day struggles.
This critique aligns with broader opposition (NPP) commentary around the 2026 SONA period, where figures like Oppong Nkrumah have contrasted government “promise keeping” narratives and economic metrics with claims of persistent hardships (e.g., in sectors like cocoa farming, energy costs, and general cost of living). He framed it as constructive advice rather than outright dismissal, stressing the need for leaders to acknowledge public pain and ground-level feedback to ensure policies truly benefit citizens.
His comments were part of ongoing post-SONA reactions, where opposition voices questioned whether reported gains (like lower inflation and stronger cedi) fully translate to relief for average households.