ABSTRACT
This chapter assesses the PNDC’s economic recovery programme (ERP). It followed Rawlings’ decision in August 1982 to side with key economic advisors, Dr Kwesi Botchwey and Dr Joe Abbey, in adopting an IMF/World Bank-supported programme of economic reform (Hutchful 2022 int.; Tsikata 2022 int.). Adoption of the ERP focused international attention on Ghana, which became a test case for the political practicability and economic efficacy of the neo-liberal approach. Rawlings’ decision laid bare a profound disagreement regarding economic direction between his rural-oriented and production-oriented position and the worker and urban-oriented stance of PNDC leftists, including Chris Atim, Zaya Yeebo, and Daniel Alolga Akata-Pore, who accused Rawlings of betraying the revolution (Yeebo 2022 int.).
