Archbishop Charles Agyin-Asare has delivered what can only be described as a full-throated endorsement of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), praising its economic performance as “unprecedented” in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
Speaking on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on Starr FM, the founder of Perez Chapel International said he was taken aback by the pace of what he described as the country’s economic recovery.
“I have seen governments for close to six decades, but we haven’t seen the nation shift the way it has shifted,” he said, pointing to the appreciation of the cedi, progress on IMF obligations, and what he called a scandal-free year as evidence of exceptional governance.
It is a striking assessment. Not just for its optimism, but for who is making it.
For years, Archbishop Agyin-Asare was among a chorus of influential clerics who rarely needed an invitation to weigh in on governance. Economic hardship, corruption concerns, and policy missteps were met with swift, often unfiltered commentary. Governments were reminded frequently that leadership was a sacred trust, not a public relations exercise.
Now, the same voice is offering something closer to applause.
The Archbishop’s argument rests on speed: that while experts predicted a decade-long recovery from Ghana’s debt challenges, the current administration has “shifted the dynamics” in just six months. It is an appealing narrative: rapid turnaround, decisive leadership, visible results.
But it is also one that invites scrutiny.
Currency appreciation, for instance, has historically proven volatile, often shaped by short-term interventions as much as long-term fundamentals. IMF programme compliance, while important, is typically a negotiated process with milestones that extend well beyond a single year. And the claim of “no scandals” depends largely on where one chooses to look and how loudly one is willing to speak when issues arise.
Yet, in this moment, the Archbishop seems less interested in interrogating these nuances and more inclined to celebrate what he sees as progress.
That shift in tone has not gone unnoticed.
Observers point out that the same religious establishment that once demanded relentless accountability now appears more comfortable highlighting positives, even as many Ghanaians continue to wrestle with the lived realities of the economy, cost of living pressures, unemployment, and uneven recovery across sectors.
To be clear, acknowledging improvement is not a crime. If anything, balanced commentary should include both criticism and praise. The discomfort arises from the contrast: the intensity of past criticism versus the generosity of present commendation.
In a political environment where public trust is already fragile, consistency matters. When influential voices swing from alarm bells to standing ovations within a short span, it raises a difficult question: has the situation changed that dramatically, or has the commentary?
For now, Archbishop Agyin-Asare appears convinced that Ghana is witnessing something exceptional.
Many Ghanaians, however, are still waiting to feel it.
