Haruna Iddrisu, a former Minority Leader, has strongly criticized Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for his recent comments on improving Ghana’s economy. Bawumia, who is positioning himself as the leader to guide Ghana through its economic challenges, recently suggested an “upgrade” for the country. However, Iddrisu disagrees with this approach, arguing that Ghana needs a fundamental reset, not just an upgrade.
Iddrisu, a prominent figure in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), pointed out that the current state of Ghana does not warrant just an upgrade. He stressed that the economic situation has significantly deteriorated under the NPP’s leadership, making a full reset necessary. This view aligns with that of John Mahama, the NDC’s flagbearer, who has also called for a reset to address Ghana’s economic challenges.
During an interview on JoyNews’ “The Pulse,” Iddrisu did not hold back his criticism. He argued that the NPP, under Bawumia’s leadership as Vice President, had ample time—eight years in power—to turn things around. Instead, he believes they have squandered the opportunity to fix the ailing economy and deliver on their promises to the people of Ghana. “For the NPP and Bawumia, it’s a lost opportunity. What you cannot do in eight years, you are now promising in 100 days and into the future, no,” Iddrisu remarked. His statement highlights the skepticism many in the opposition feel about the NPP’s new promises and their ability to deliver meaningful change after so much time in office without significant results.
He recalled the NPP’s 2016 manifesto, which promised to transform Ghana from an economy focused on production and taxation to one that ends the suffering of its citizens. Iddrisu questioned whether the NPP has achieved any of these goals, citing ongoing economic struggles like high inflation, unsustainable debt levels, and poor economic performance. “Have they ended the suffering of Ghanaians?” he asked, pointing to the numerous economic indicators that suggest otherwise.
Iddrisu’s comments come in response to Bawumia’s dismissal of Mahama’s proposal for a reset. Bawumia argued that Ghana does not need a reset but rather an upgrade. However, Iddrisu sees this as ignoring the deeper issues plaguing the nation’s economy. He believes the NPP is merely glossing over significant problems that need more than just surface-level solutions. “You cannot come and upgrade hardship,” Iddrisu said, emphasizing that addressing inflation, poor economic performance, and unsustainable debt requires more substantial efforts than what the NPP is proposing.
