The National Democratic Congress in the Ashanti Region has issued a statement demanding accountability from Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party as he embarks on his tour of the Ashanti Region.
Abass Nurudeen Esq., the Ashanti Regional Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress, in a statement, articulated ten pressing questions that reflect the deep concerns and frustrations of the Ashanti people regarding the governance and promises of President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s administration.
The NDC’s statement underscored the significant electoral support that the NPP has historically received from the Ashanti Region, adding that in both the 2016 and 2020 general elections, seven out of every ten voters in the region casted their ballots for the NPP, largely influenced by the party’s enticing campaign promises.
“At the heart of the NPP’s mouth-watering campaign promises was a certain Dr.Mahamadu Bawumia, their so-called poster child of economic transformation. While in opposition, candidate Akufo-Addo (as he then was) presented Dr. Bawumia to the whole world as that economic whizz kid who has practical solutions to all our economic challenges”.
Abass Nurudeen Esq, Ashanti Regional Communications Officer, NDC
Criticism of Economic Management
The Ashanti Regional Communications Officer of the opposition party thus argued that after nearly eight years in power, Dr Bawumia’s performance, particularly as the head of the Economic Management Team, has been disappointing.
Lawyer Abaas Nuruuden decried what he described as the severe economic condition the country is facing under the leadership of the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the head of the current administration’s Economic Management Team.
This, he noted includes the significant depreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi, which is amongst the worst-performing currencies in the world, currently trading at over GHS15 to a dollar, soaring inflation rates of 23%, high interest rates of 40%, and an unprecedented public debt of GHS658.6 billion.
“Ghanaians are reeling under unimaginable hardships; businesses are folding up by the day as the Ashanti Region, which is the stronghold of the NPP and the economic nerve-centre of Ghana, experiences its fair share of Ghana’s economic meltdown occasioned by the mismanagement of Dr Bawumia”.
Abass Nurudeen Esq, Ashanti Regional Communications Officer, NDC
Ten Pertinent Questions
Among several questions, the Ashanti Regional Communications Officer of the opposition party, Abass Nurudeen Esq. posed ten critical questions, urging the New Patriotic Party flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to address them during his tour in the Ashanti Region.
Firstly, Lawyer Nurudeen urged the Vice President to explain why the Cedi fell so freely under his watch, and what happened to his infamous claim of arresting the Cedi and handing over the keys to the IGP.
Again, Lawyer Nurudeen requested the Vice President to explain his promise to provide a new model secondary school for the Zongo communities in the Ashanti Region, and in addition, explain why the cost of Hajj increased dramatically to GHS75,000 from GHS11,900 in 2016.
Demanding answers about the state of some infrastructural projects in the Ashanti Region, Lawyer Nurudeen urged the Vice President to indicate when exactly the Kejetia Central Market phase two and the Krofrom markets be completed.
Moreover, the National Democratic Congress Ashanti Regional Communications Officer called on the Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party flagbearer to provide an update on the party’s promise to provide five interchanges for the Ashanti Region and explain why the Kumasi Airport phase two and three not operational despite being commissioned.
He also demanded accountability on the completion of the ruling party’s Agenda 111 hospitals in the Ashanti Region, the provision of one million dollars per constituency promised to the Ashanti Region.
Lawyer Nurudeen concluded his questions by chastising the ruling government on its failure to renovate the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, leaving the Asantehene Otumfour Osei Tutu II to solicit funds for the hospital when taxes are paid to the government, in addition to demanding accountability on the current state of the Boankra Inland Port.
“The people of the Ashanti Region expect accountability from the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government for the faith they have reposed in them over two electoral cycles. Elections are upon us again, and there comes Dr Bawumia again, on another mission to hoodwink the good people of Ashanti.
“It will however not be business as usual. This is our assurance to the people of Ashanti, as we ready ourselves to subject Bawumia’s perfidious and empty promises while on this tour to strict scrutiny”.
Abass Nurudeen Esq, Ashanti Regional Communications Officer, NDC
In a final admonition, the National Democratic Congress’s statement suggested that if Dr Mahamudu Bawumia cannot provide satisfactory answers to its critical issues, he should offer an unqualified apology to the people of the Ashanti Region and refrain from making further unrealistic promises.
