Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), criticized former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), during a media engagement on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
In a series of remarks, Dr. Bawumia challenged Mahama's record in office and his bid to return to power while defending the current government's performance.
Here are some highlights of Dr. Bawumia's jabs at Mahama:
1. Mahama left an abysmal record in 2016
Dr. Bawumia questioned Mahama's track record and decision to run for office again. He pointed out that Mahama had left the country in a dire state by the end of his presidency in 2016, highlighting issues such as prolonged power outages, the cancellation of nursing allowances, and a near-collapse of the banking sector.
"Sometimes I get a little surprised about the former President when he talks about economic mismanagement because he should know his own record. We all don’t have short memories," Dr. Bawumia stated. He reminded Ghanaians of the hardships they faced during Mahama's tenure. He emphasized that the NPP has since created over 2.1 million jobs and built significant infrastructure across the country.
2. Mocking Mahama as ‘Government Official 1’
Dr. Bawumia also took a jab at Mahama over his alleged involvement in the Airbus bribery scandal, where the former president was identified as "Government Official 1" by UK and US courts. In a remark, Bawumia said, "People call me a liar, and I say at least I'm not called a murderer, or a drug dealer, or even 'Government Official 1.'"
This comment referenced Mahama's supposed involvement in the Airbus bribery scandal, although the former president was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Special Prosecutor.
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3. Read before you talk
Addressing Mahama's criticism of the government's banking sector reforms, Dr. Bawumia urged the former president to educate himself on the matter before speaking. He defended the reforms, which he said were necessary to save the deposits of 4.6 million Ghanaians.
"I don't understand whether the former president has taken his time to actually understand what happened in the banking sector. Some atrocious things happened, and this is why these banks had to be saved," Bawumia argued. He criticized Mahama for his lack of understanding and expressed surprise that a former president would be unaware of the legal procedures involved in such reforms.
4. Ghana needs an upgrade, not a reset
In response to Mahama’s campaign promise to "reset" the country, Dr. Bawumia countered with his own vision, stating that Ghana needs an upgrade rather than a reset. He outlined his 14 key commitments to the Ghanaian people, including expanding the economy, creating jobs, and improving infrastructure.
"I represent the future, and Ghana needs an upgrade, not a reset," Bawumia declared.
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