Dela Coffie, a vocal activist of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed strong criticism towards Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s claims regarding the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) superior management of Ghana’s economy.
He pointed out that the New Patriotic Party Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia claim during the unveiling of the party’s running mate in Kumasi, asserting that the NPP has handled the country’s economy better than its predecessors is misleading and unfounded.
“Oh yes, I’ve been brooding over Dr Bawumia’s central claim regarding his speech in Kumasi the other day. I wouldn’t be overly critical of him but to say the NPP did better with the management of the economy leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I mean, how did you manage the economy better?”
Dela Coffie, National Democratic Congress Activist
Fiscal Deficit and National Debt
Mr Coffie, particularly questioned how the New Patriotic Party can claim economic management superiority when the fiscal deficit and national debt have ballooned.
He noted that at the time the ruling New Patriotic Party took office, these indicators were at more manageable levels, and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia himself had labeled the previous managers of the economy as incompetent.
The political strategist and activist further challenged the notion of economic stability by highlighting the current cedi to the dollar exchange rate.
According to Mr. Coffie, the devaluation of the cedi under the New Patriotic Party’s administration under the Economic Management Team led by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia contradicts any claims of economic management success.
He posed a critical question: “In practical terms, how many cedis do you need to buy one dollar today compared to 2016?”
The National Democratic Congress activist, Dela Coffie also criticized what he terms as “quick fixes,” such as extensive foreign borrowing aimed at temporarily stabilizing the cedi.
He pointed out that these measures do not equate to sustainable economic growth but rather add to the long-term debt burden of the country.
In addition, the National Democratic Congress activist accused Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of leveraging the narrative of economic management for political self-advancement.
He admonished Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to shift towards digitalization, a field where he claims he has shown competence, rather than persisting with claims about economic management that do not resonate with the lived experiences of ordinary Ghanaians.
The Need for Genuine Solutions
Dela Coffie, in conclusion, emphasized that what Ghanaians need are not lofty aspirations or self-adulatory speeches but tangible solutions that offer hope for a better and fairer tomorrow.
He called for a more honest and pragmatic approach to addressing the economic challenges facing the country, one that prioritizes the well-being of the people over political rhetoric.
The Vice President and the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during the unveiling of the party’s running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh in Kumasi Jubilee Park underscored the ruling party’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy.
He emphasized strides made in fiscal management, debt control, and measures to stabilize the cedi, and painted a picture of an economy that, under the New Patriotic Party, has seen a significant improvement compared to the tenure of the National Democratic Congress.
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