Ernest Opoku Boateng: US strikes may doom Iran nuclear deal, harm Ghana’s economy
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (23 June), Boateng questioned the logic behind the strikes, particularly as intelligence reports had not confirmed Iran’s development of nuclear weapons
Ernest Opoku Boateng, Executive Director of the African Public Policy Research Centre, believes the US airstrikes on Iran have placed the future of the Iran nuclear deal in jeopardy, undermining global non-proliferation efforts and threatening economic stability in developing nations.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (23 June), Boateng questioned the logic behind the strikes, particularly as intelligence reports had not confirmed Iran’s development of nuclear weapons.
“This action could push Iran to abandon the deal altogether and pursue nuclear weapons as a deterrent,” he said, referencing historical examples like Libya, Ukraine, and North Korea.
He emphasised that while Iran has claimed its nuclear programme is civilian in nature, the US strikes may force Tehran to rethink its strategy.
“The lesson from Libya and Iraq is that nations without strong deterrents are vulnerable,” he said.
Closer to home, Boateng warned that Ghana’s economy could suffer from knock-on effects, particularly rising fuel prices and currency instability.
“We are net importers of refined petroleum. Even a $10 increase in oil prices can hurt our economy, raise inflation, and strain the government’s budget,” he explained.
He also noted that global shipping disruptions or oil price volatility could impact Ghana’s reserves and escalate the cost of imports—affecting everything from transport to electricity tariffs and consumer goods.
“In an interconnected world, distance doesn’t protect you from fallout,” he said.
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