Growing Optimism as Ghana Embraces ‘#AbanBɔneKɔ’ & ‘#AbanPapaAba!’
ACCRA, GHANA — Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem declared during the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament that Ghanaians are renewed in optimism, propelled by the rallying hashtags “#AbanBɔneKɔ” (the bad government is gone) and “#AbanPapaAba!” (a good government has arrived).
He attributed this resurgence in national spirit to measurable economic progress under President John Dramani Mahama and Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Key Economic Indicators Fueling Hope
Deputy Minister Ampem highlighted a robust recovery backed by official figures − measurable signs that Ghana is regaining confidence and stability:
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Agricultural Growth hitting a five-year high
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Consumer Confidence Index rising from 87.7 (April 2024) to 103.6 (April 2025)
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Business Confidence Index climbing from 88.8 to 105.5
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Inflation reduced from 23.8% (Dec 2024) to 13.7% (June 2025)
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Prices of staples like rice, sugar, and cooking oil at four-year lows
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GH₵2 billion capital injection into National Investment Bank to safeguard deposits and jobs
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GH₵5.1 billion saved in interest payments thanks to lower T‑bill rates and a strengthened cedi
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Public debt cut by GH₵113 billion in six months; debt‑to‑GDP ratio falling to 43.8%
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Cedi appreciation of 42.6% against the US dollar — the strongest in six decades
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Ghana’s credit rating upgraded to B‑ with stable outlook
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91‑day Treasury bill rate falling from 27.7% to 10.84%
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Gross international reserves rising from US$8.98 billion to US$11.12 billion (covering 4.8 months of imports)
Ampem emphasized that these gains signify more than rhetoric—they reflect real economic transformation.
‘AbanPapaAba!’: The New National Narrative
The Deputy Minister underscored that the shift in economic indicators has rekindled public sentiment. Today’s rallying cries—“#AbanBɔneKɔ” and “#AbanPapaAba!”—have become powerful symbols on social media and in public discourse of Ghana’s newfound stability.
“Mr. Speaker, Ghanaians are now happy because #AbanBɔneKɔ and #AbanPapaAba!” he proclaimed, crediting the Mahama administration’s responsible fiscal management and development-focused policies.
Investigative Insight: Turning Symbol into Sustainability
While renewed confidence is evident, analysts caution that maintaining this trajectory will require:
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Sustained fiscal discipline and debt servicing efficiency
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Ongoing support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
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Protecting gains in consumer purchasing power
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Continued transparency in public finances and decentralization of economic benefits
The challenge ahead is to ensure that the economic upswing represented by “AbanPapaAba!” solidifies into long-term prosperity.
Source: My News Ghana
