Lawuratu Musah-Saaka, Shamima Muslim clash on live TV over rising prices

A heated exchange erupted on live television between New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications team member Lawuratu Musah-Saaka and Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim during a discussion on the prices of goods and services in Ghana.

The two political communicators engaged in a fiery back-and-forth during the Good Morning Ghana programme on Metro TV as they debated whether the prices of essential commodities had actually declined under the John Dramani Mahama administration.

The discussion quickly turned tense after Shamima Muslim accused some NPP communicators of engaging in what she described as “jandam propaganda” in an attempt to discredit the government’s economic record.

According to Shamima, despite claims by some opposition communicators that prices continue to rise, there have been reductions in the prices of several goods on the market.

She cited agricultural products and comments from market women as evidence of what she described as marginal reductions in prices.

However, Musah-Saaka strongly pushed back against the argument, insisting that the reality being experienced by ordinary Ghanaians was different from the narrative being presented by the government.

She particularly took issue with Shamima’s description of NPP communicators, arguing that the debate should focus on the facts rather than personal attacks.

“Shamima can sit here and use all kinds of adjectives on me. Call me dishonest. But, fundamentally, it takes one to know one,” Musah-Saaka retorted.

The NPP communicator maintained that prices had not fallen across all markets and challenged the government’s position with examples of commodities whose prices, she said, remained high.

She mentioned kenkey, claiming that the popular Ghanaian staple could cost as much as GH¢7 in some locations.

That claim immediately drew a strong response from Shamima Muslim, who disputed the figure and insisted that ordinary consumers were not paying GH¢7 for kenkey everywhere in the country.

The disagreement intensified as both women attempted to defend their respective positions, resulting in a heated exchange that eventually forced the programme host to intervene.

The confrontation has since attracted attention because of the contrasting positions of the two communicators, with the discussion highlighting the wider political debate over the cost of living and whether recent economic developments are translating into lower prices for ordinary Ghanaians.

While the government and its representatives have pointed to reductions in some commodity prices as evidence of improving economic conditions, opposition communicators continue to argue that many households are still struggling with elevated living costs.

The live-TV confrontation between Musah-Saaka and Shamima therefore provided another glimpse into the increasingly intense political debate over Ghana’s economic performance and the everyday experiences of consumers.

The exchange also underscored how discussions about economic indicators can quickly become politically charged, particularly when government claims of improvement are measured against the experiences of consumers at markets and shops across the country.