It's About the Economy and People's Lives: We cannot afford more of the same

The people of Ghana deserve far better than the hardships they’ve endured under the current leadership. They deserve leaders who genuinely care about the nation's wellbeing—leaders who place public interest above personal gain, who manage public funds with transparency, and who devote themselves to creating opportunities that lift citizens up, not deepen inequality.

For too long, reckless borrowing, broken promises, and gross economic mismanagement have plagued Ghana, plunging countless families into uncertainty, suffering and despair. It’s time for Ghanaians to demand accountability and to break free from this cycle of failed leadership.

As the 2024 elections approach, this is not just a moment to vote—it’s a call to action. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the current Vice President and head of the economic management team, is now presenting himself as the "visionary leader" that Ghana supposedly needs. But let’s pause for a moment: this is the same Dr. Bawumia who led the very economic team under which Ghana’s economy fell into its worst crisis in decades. His supporters speak of “new ideas” and a “fresh direction,” as though he wasn’t at the helm of the current administration’s failed economic policies.

It’s as if they’re trying to rewrite history, distancing him from the mess he played a direct role in creating. And if Dr. Bawumia’s leadership over the past eight years lacked this so-called "vision," why should Ghanaians reward him to lead the country out of the mess he helped create?

Under Dr. Bawumia’s leadership, Ghana’s debt has skyrocketed from GHS 120 billion to over GHS 760 billion. And what did Ghanaians get in return? This colossal debt wasn’t used to create jobs, build critical infrastructure, or invest in sectors that would stimulate long-term economic growth. Instead, these borrowed funds disappeared into overpriced contracts, systemic corruption, and dubious deals that benefited only a privileged few.

Today, Ghana is in the throes of a painful debt restructuring process that has stripped investors, pensioners, and ordinary citizens of their hard-earned savings. Families, retirees, and workers alike are being forced to bear the brunt of government incompetence and greed. How can anyone look at this track record and honestly believe that Dr. Bawumia deserves a promotion to the highest office in the land?

One can’t ignore how Dr. Bawumia has strategically chosen to remain silent on the economy—the very area he was entrusted to manage. Instead of addressing the pressing economic issues that Ghanaians face daily, he talks about digitization. While digital initiatives can undoubtedly play a role in modern governance, it feels like a distraction from the very real, urgent economic crises affecting every household.

Talking about digitization when people are struggling with basic costs, when inflation is eroding purchasing power, and when job opportunities are scarce, feels tone-deaf and evasive. It raises the question: is this focus on digitization an attempt to gloss over the economic failures under his watch? For many, it feels like an insult—a way to avoid accountability for the crisis that is hitting citizens the hardest.

Ghana’s economic crisis is not merely the result of unfortunate circumstances or global trends. It is the direct consequence of internal failings: corruption, incompetence, and a glaring lack of accountability. Every decision made by this government has only deepened the hardship for ordinary Ghanaians.

The suffering we see on the faces of parents, students, small business owners, and farmers is real, and it’s a direct outcome of poor governance. It’s unconscionable that the same leaders who orchestrated this economic catastrophe now present themselves as the “solution” to a crisis of their own making. They broke the economy, and now they want Ghanaians to believe they’re the ones to fix it.

The time has come to end this cycle of hardship, despair, and betrayal. As citizens, we must demand transparency. We must demand reforms that genuinely address the issues at hand, rather than simply serve those in power. And we must choose leaders who are genuinely committed to serving the people, not enriching themselves. The 2024 election is our chance to reclaim Ghana’s future. It’s our opportunity to reject leaders who have proven themselves unworthy of the trust placed in them.

Dr. Bawumia has had nearly eight years to demonstrate the "visionary leadership" his campaign now touts. Instead, he’s presided over one of the most disastrous economic periods in Ghana’s history. Rewarding this track record with the presidency would be more than unjust—it would be a sign that Ghanaians are willing to tolerate the very failures that have caused so much suffering.

We cannot afford more of the same. The stakes are too high. The time for change is now. Let us choose leaders who embody integrity, vision, and an unwavering commitment to Ghana’s prosperity, leaders who understand that real progress is measured not by flashy technology but by tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary people.

Ghana deserves leaders who will put in the hard work to rebuild the economy, prioritize job creation, and restore public trust. It’s about the economy. It’s about people’s lives.