Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has strongly criticized the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, labeling nearly two years of its administration as a series of "failed and scam" promises. Dr. Bawumia asserted that the government has struggled to fulfill many of its lofty pledges to the Ghanaian populace. He delivered these remarks at the NPP National Delegates Conference in Kumasi.
Dr. Bawumia specifically highlighted the NDC's flagship 24-hour economy promise, which aimed to create jobs through a "1 job, 3 shifts, 3 people" model. He stated that nearly two years have passed without these promised jobs materializing, leaving young graduates and artisans still waiting. The former Vice President also noted the unfulfilled promise of a Women's Development Bank, which has yet to open its doors to market women. He further pointed to a significant increase in electricity tariffs, contrary to the NDC's promise of reductions, which has crippled households and small businesses.
This critique comes amidst broader economic concerns in Ghana, where citizens grapple with rising costs of living. Despite official inflation figures showing a decline to 5%, Dr. Bawumia argued that the actual cost of transportation, spare parts, and rent has increased massively for ordinary Ghanaians. The stability of the Ghana cedi, a key economic indicator, has been a point of contention. Dr. Bawumia claimed the cedi's relative stability is largely supported by the previous NPP government's innovative Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, launched in June 2021. He noted that key officials of the current government had initially opposed this policy.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia stated, "The young graduate and artisan who voted for the NDC because of this sweet promise of a dramatic job boom through the 1 job, 3 shifts, 3 people offer under the NDC is still waiting for his or her shift." He added that the promised 24-hour economy jobs have instead turned into "24-hour demolition of buildings." The former Vice President also criticized the government for abandoning crucial national healthcare interventions like Agenda 111, designed to provide district hospitals. He further claimed the Free Senior High School program is suffering under the current administration, with many BECE graduates allegedly being deliberately cut off.
The implications of these criticisms are significant for Ghana's political landscape and upcoming elections. The NDC government will likely face increased pressure to demonstrate progress on its economic promises and address public concerns about the cost of living. Investors and businesses will closely watch the government's response and its ability to maintain economic stability. The debate over the cedi's stability and the efficacy of economic programs will continue to shape public discourse. This political discourse also highlights the ongoing challenge of illegal mining, known as galamsey, which Dr. Bawumia noted has worsened under the current administration despite promises to resolve it.
The former Vice President also touched on other unfulfilled promises, including increased cocoa prices for farmers, automatic posting for teachers and nurses, and the cancellation of teacher licensure examinations. He described these as additional "scams." These statements are expected to intensify political campaigning as parties prepare for future electoral contests. The public will be scrutinizing the government's performance against these specific claims. The economic impact of these alleged policy failures could influence voter sentiment significantly.