Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (in hat) in a handshake with Dr. Bawumia
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, a former Majority Leader has jumped to the defence of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the wake of criticism directed at him for his pledges to reverse some policies implemented by the current administration.
During an insight into the NPP's 2024 platform, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu made it clear that Dr. Bawumia, in his capacity as vice president, is only President Akufo-Addo's advisor and lacks the authority to enact or revoke policies.
He clarified that Dr. Bawumia's job is to offer advice, not to impose policies, and that the President of Ghana alone has executive authority.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu highlighted how conditions and demands in society shift with time by citing instances of previous presidents who succeeded themselves but unveiled fresh manifestos.
He made it clear that Dr. Bawumia's pledges to remove laws like the electronic levy, the betting tax, and the reinstatement of road tolls are sections of the NPP's 2024 platform and are not indicative of his authority as vice president as it stands at this time.
He stated, “President Rawlings succeeded himself in 1996. Did he have the same manifesto as he had in 1992? The 1996 manifesto of the NDC was significantly different from the 1992 manifesto, even though Rawlings succeeded himself.
“President Kufour succeeded himself; in the second stanza of his administration, the manifesto was marketed differently because society is dynamic,” the Suame MP said in a report by citinewsroom.com.
He added: “President Mahama, when he succeeded President Mills, didn’t have the same manifesto; he didn’t repeat the same manifesto because circumstances have changed. This should be obvious. Executive authority in this country is vested in one person.
“The Vice President is an adviser to the president; he’s the prime adviser. It doesn’t mean that whatever is proposed by the Vice President should be taken by the president because, as I said, the executive authority is in one person."
KA
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