Election 2024: Franklin Cudjoe challenges Bawumia’s 'worst president' tag on Mahama

The President of Imani Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has challenged a recent statement by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia that former President John Mahama is the “worst president” of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

In a social media post, Mr. Cudjoe questioned the accuracy of Dr. Bawumia’s statement, comparing key economic indicators from Mahama’s administration to current conditions under the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He noted that in 2016, during Mahama’s tenure, the exchange rate was $1 to GHS 4, and the price of a bag of cement was around GHS 24. Although Ghana was under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, Mr. Cudjoe emphasized that the Mahama government did not implement a “pickpocketing” strategy on citizens’ savings and pensions, referencing the debt exchange program under the current administration, which led to significant financial losses for Ghanaians, especially pensioners.

He stressed that the exchange rate has now reached around $1 to GHS 17.4, with the price of a bag of cement exceeding GHS 100. He also pointed to an increase in national debt from GHS 120 billion in 2016 to approximately GHS 763 billion in 2024, alongside the introduction of over 40 new taxes and inflation surpassing 54%. This economic environment, according to Cudjoe, has doubled the unemployment rate, pushed more Ghanaians into poverty, and contributed to environmental degradation.

Cudjoe argued that, based on these economic conditions, the Bawumia-led administration faces challenges that could overshadow any perceived shortcomings under Mahama’s leadership.

Background

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, recently labeled former President John Mahama as the “worst-performing President of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.” Speaking to supporters in Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Bawumia criticized Mahama’s record in areas such as GDP growth, agriculture, and industry.

In contrast, Dr. Bawumia pointed to the Akufo-Addo administration’s achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, and education, stating, “We have done far better than him in roads, jobs, hospitals, schools, railways, sanitation facilities, fish landing sites, libraries, and courts.”