Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has challenged the opposition’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Mahama, to a presidential debate once again. This is part of Bawumia’s ongoing attempt to engage Mahama in a public discussion about their respective records in government.
During a rally in Dansoman, Bawumia expressed his belief that Mahama’s refusal to participate in a debate is a clear indication that the former president lacked confidence in his policies. Bawumia argued that Mahama’s track record as president was not impressive, and suggested that his reluctance to debate reveals his fear of scrutiny. The vice president emphasized that presidential debates are a hallmark of advanced democracies and wondered why Mahama continues to decline such invitations.
Bawumia did not hold back in his criticism. “The former president knows he cannot compete because, in every sector of the economy, the records show that we have performed far better than him,” he declared. He insisted that if Mahama truly believed he had a superior performance record, he would not hesitate to debate. “That’s why I challenged him that if he believes he performed better in any sector, he should come for an open debate. But he is afraid, so he is running away from a debate,” Bawumia asserted to his supporters.
The vice president continued his critique by outlining what he saw as the failures of Mahama’s presidency. He reminded the crowd of the period known as ‘dumsor,’ a term used to describe the frequent and prolonged power outages under Mahama’s administration. He also highlighted Mahama’s inability to provide basic supplies, such as chalk, to schools. Bawumia claimed these failures are part of a larger pattern of ineffective governance.
In addition to criticizing Mahama’s handling of infrastructure and education, Bawumia aimed specific policy decisions made by the former president. He recalled how Mahama had opposed the Free Senior High School initiative, a policy that has since been implemented and expanded under the current administration. Furthermore, Bawumia criticized Mahama for cancelling allowances for teachers and nursing trainees, a move that was widely unpopular and seen as detrimental to these professions.
“We have not forgotten all these bad records,” Bawumia said, reiterating the shortcomings he attributed to Mahama’s time in office. He then contrasted these with what he described as his party’s achievements, especially in digitalization. He highlighted the NPP’s progress in providing laptops to senior high school students, arguing that this move represents a significant step forward from the days when basic educational supplies were lacking.
Bawumia used this opportunity to draw a stark contrast between his vision for Ghana’s future and what he portrayed as the failed policies of the past. He called on Ghanaians to recognize the progress made under the NPP and to support their continued efforts to modernize and improve the country’s infrastructure and services.
