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A heated exchange erupted on live television on February 7, 2026, when Solomon Owusu, Communications Director of the Unity Party (UP+), and Awal Mohammed, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications team, locked horns during a debate on Ghana’s economic performance.
The confrontation occurred on Joy Prime during a panel discussion focused on inflation and the broader state of the economy.
Inflation and the Russia–Ukraine argument
During his submission, Awal Mohammed argued that Ghana’s sharp rise in inflation under the Akufo-Addo administration was largely driven by external shocks, particularly the Russia–Ukraine war.
According to him, inflation rose sharply after the war broke out but later declined as global conditions stabilised.
“We entered January at about 13.9 per cent. The Russia–Ukraine war started around February 15, and inflation shot up to about 54 per cent before it started coming down to 23 per cent,” Awal explained.
Owusu challenges the narrative
When Solomon Owusu took his turn, he questioned the logic behind linking Ghana’s inflation entirely to the war.
“So you’re saying inflation jumped to 13.5 per cent because of Russia–Ukraine?” Owusu asked.
He followed up with a pointed question:
“Is the Russia–Ukraine war still happening or not?”
The question appeared to unsettle the NPP communicator, who dismissed it as “unintelligent,” triggering a sharp escalation in the exchange.
Debate descends into verbal confrontation
Owusu responded forcefully, accusing Awal of avoiding the substance of the argument.
“That is a stupid answer. A very stupid answer,” Owusu fired back.
Awal, in turn, accused Owusu of lacking a basic understanding of economic data and issues.
Inflation under Mahama highlighted
Owusu insisted his argument was simple: that if the Russia–Ukraine war was still ongoing, then it could not be the sole explanation for Ghana’s inflation crisis under the previous government.
He pointed to the current inflation figures under the John Dramani Mahama-led administration, noting a significant drop.
“Russia–Ukraine is still happening, yet inflation has dropped to as low as 3.8 per cent. That alone exposes how shallow your argument is,” Owusu said angrily.
The exchange ended with both communicators trading insults, as the discussion spiralled away from policy analysis into personal attacks.
Economic debate turns political
The clash highlights the increasingly charged nature of political discourse around Ghana’s economy, particularly as parties position themselves ahead of future elections.
While the panel was intended to examine economic data and policy choices, the confrontation underscored how deeply polarised interpretations of Ghana’s inflation crisis remain.
