Vice President and New Patriotic Party(NPP) Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has never sought to distance himself from the challenges or perceived economic woes that the country is faced with.
To Dr. Gideon Boako, Spokesperson to the NPP Flagbearer, his boss is and "still remains an integral part of the current administration," but simply has "a mind on his own" and intends to execute that agenda once given the mandate to serve as President.
Dr Bawumia, during his address to Ghanaians on his vision for the country when elected as president, on February 7, 2024, at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), Auditorium, said: "As Vice President, I am like a driver’s mate, but if by the Grace of God you make me a President, I will be in the driver’s seat and with constitutionally mandated authority to pursue my vision and priorities."
He further added that the Economic Management Team (EMT) of which he (Bawumia) heads, does not have decision-making powers, but serves as a advisory body to cabinet.
"I was appointed as chair of the EMT, as a sub-committee to Cabinet we do not have decision-making powers but I am very proud of the quality of advice we have been providing over the years to Cabinet.
“As vice president, I was asked by the president to assist in solving the problems that were inhibiting the economy. My approach was to help formalize the economy through digitalization as stated in our 2016 manifesto,” he posited.
His remarks have not gone down well with a section of the public who believe Dr Bawumia is attempting to insulate himself from the blame heaped on the EMT for the economic challenges that Ghana is facing.
But speaking on Friday's edition of ‘Mpu ne Mpu’ on United Television (UTV), Dr Gideon Boako, who is also the Parliamentary Candidate for Tano North, pointed out that the Vice-President's statement simply buttresses the fact that he is ‘’his own man’’.
Adding that "the Bawumia led government will continue some of the projects of his boss, Nana Akufo Addo while he champions his agenda which is mainly digitally driven."
''The NDC do not want to speak to the economic data and performance Bawumia spoke about. Bawumia took one solid hour to build a case that despite all the questions and the talks, the government led by Nana Akufo Addo has constructed over 11,000 km of roads than any government since 1992. Bawumia said it but the NDC couldn't challenge it.
''No government since 1992 has created 1.2 million jobs as President Akufo Addo has done which Bawumia spoke about, yet the NDC has not challenged the records," he stated.
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