NDC’s Wonder Madilo has fiercely dismissed Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s recent apology to Ghanaians, warning that the former Vice President cannot distance himself from the Akufo-Addo administration’s failures by mimicking the same strategy that former President Akufo-Addo used in 2008.
Madilo asserted that Ghanaians will no longer accept blanket apologies lacking substance and accountability, especially from someone once so deeply involved in government operations.
“Come on, please, we deserve better. Ghanaians are not rubber stamps such that you only come to when you need your vote – you apologize, get the mandate, and then you do worse off”
Wonder Madilo, NDC Communication Team
“It won’t work this time,” Madilo said, referencing Dr. Bawumia’s efforts to shift blame while setting the stage for a possible 2028 presidential campaign.
He argued that unlike Akufo-Addo’s post-Kufuor distancing tactic that helped him win in 2016, Dr. Bawumia’s deeper entanglement in the erstwhile government, especially as head of the Economic Management Team, renders the strategy ineffective and insincere.
He drew a direct parallel between Dr. Bawumia’s apology and Akufo-Addo’s 2008 “thank you” tour, during which the latter claimed not to have benefited from state largesse or aligned with certain actions of the Kufuor administration.
“It looks like the same template because he’s been part of it,” Madilo said, pointing out Dr. Bawumia is attempting to “extricate” himself, despite being the Vice President and a key player in the economic and security management of the Akufo-Addo-led government.
Madilo warned that Ghanaians are no longer naive. “This time around, I can assure you, both the NDC and Ghanaians are very much awake, we are watching, we are observing closely.”
A Vague Apology
He stressed that apologies cannot be used as vehicles to win votes without corresponding truth and policy credibility. The lack of specificity in Dr. Bawumia’s apology came under sharp scrutiny, with Madilo demanding clear, data-backed explanations on what exactly he was sorry for.
“Dr. Bawumia’s apology lacks substance,” he complained, questioning why Dr. Bawumia remained silent on key policy failures during his tenure but now offers vague regret. In his view, the former Vice President’s move reeks of opportunism rather than remorse.
“A blanket statement like ‘we are sorry’ is no statement. What are the specific things that Bawumia feels were wrong, especially now when their own (NPP) report is out?”
Wonder Madilo, NDC Communication Team
Madilo further challenged Dr. Bawumia’s claim to economic dissent within the party, calling it inconsistent and misleading.
According to him, Dr. Bawumia never voiced opposition to the controversial E-levy while in office, and only began disassociating himself after he emerged as the NPP’s flagbearer for the 2024 elections.
Madilo sniffed out the contradictions in Bawumia’s narrative around the E-levy and COVID levy. While the former government touted the E-levy as critical for raising funds, Dr. Bawumia now seems to be distancing himself from it, despite it forming the backbone of major initiatives like Agenda 111.
“He was representing the party,” Madilo pressed, arguing that Dr. Bawumia’s personal views, if any, were never publicly stated or reflected in government action.
“If we admit that governance is a majority concession and a majority concession means the majority decision rules then he can’t come out and say that he was against it”
Wonder Madilo, NDC Communication Team
He noted that Dr. Bawumia was marketed to Ghanaians as the “economic messiah” by former President Akufo-Addo himself, entrusted to fix the economy. Yet, the outcomes were disastrous, with levies being used for initiatives that Dr. Bawumia now appears to reject.
“So in one breath, you give credit to yourself for some achievements you have chalked, then in another breath you want to run away from the basis for which you chalked some of those achievements?”
Wonder Madilo, NDC Communication Team
Madilo warned that moving forward, policies and campaign promises will be dissected with precision, emphasizing that political power must be earned through honesty and sacrifice, not vague rhetoric or selective memory.
“We’ll make sure that it is honest enough, it’s truthful, and it represents the interest of Ghanaians, otherwise, forget it, kiss power goodbye”
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