A Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Van Gyampo has urged the Vice President and the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to focus on delivering his message to Ghanaians rather than attacking his opponent ahead of the 2024 polls.
According to the Political Scientist, it is politically ‘tactless’ for the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to attack the National Democratic Congress flagbearer John Dramani who has been ‘vindicated’ by the New Patriotic Party administration which the Vice President is part due to its inability to fulfil the major promises its made to Ghanaians and the accompanying hardship Ghanaians are facing under the current administration as compared to the latter’s regime.
He thus admonished the Vice President and the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to use his time and energy to work to receive back public confidence in his candidature through pragmatic policies and programs.
“ Dear Sir, I have a few words to help your very difficult attempt at breaking the Eight. Remember, you were brought on board to manage the economy and your lecture series and public utterances gave a lot of hope to many Ghanaians. But the hope of many has been dashed. Your government has dissipated the goodwill willed to it by many Ghanaians. Even among your core support base, there are complaints and regrets”.
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
Professor Ransford Gyampo further cautioned the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to desist from harbouring or exhibiting any act that shows that he feels entitled.
VEEP Criticized For Attacking Mahama’s 24-Hour Economy Policy Proposal
Again, Professor Ransford Gyampo who is the President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana, University of Ghana Chapter chastised Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for his response regarding the National Democratic Congress flagbearer John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour economy policy proposal following the latter’s announcement of the policy.
According to him, the Vice President must ‘sack’ whoever is his political strategist for allowing him to speak on the policy in the manner he did as the Vice President through his criticism of the policy has rather popularized it.
“Remember, it was your opponent’s response to the free SHS that made it even more popular. So, why your political strategist couldn’t shield you from this same campaign suicidal path, should be the reasoning for their sack. This is a free political consultancy. Focus on your campaign and let your opponents do the same and may the one with the best of messages win the hearts of Ghanaians. Your recent experience in not making KA’s public outbursts against you, an issue, and your strategy to focus only on your delegates, should guide you”.
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
Moreover, Professor Ransford Gyampo urged Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to address issues in public directly and eschew the ‘unnecessary mocking laughter’ that mostly characterizes his speaking in public, as it creates a level of disrespect to his audience, a sense of ‘entitlement’, as well as a display of disregard to public ‘sensibilities’.
In addition, Professor Ransford Gyampo admonished Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to stay true and committed to his religion as a Muslim and avoid overemphasizing his engagement with the Christian community in the country.
According to him, if Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia ‘overly’ fraternized himself with the Christian community in the country, it could be easily considered as a ‘vote-getting technique’ which will worsen the loss of trust many Ghanaians have in his candidature.
“We have peacefully coexisted as Christians and Moslems and nothing should be done to point to our differences. Unintendedly, your over-fraternizations rather pronounce surreptitiously, our differences. So just leave it. We have always been together as one people and we won’t ever be disunited. That’s how come your party, a very Akan and a very Christian-dominated party, voted for you, as flag bearer. It means we have lived together, despite region and religion”.
Professor Ransford Van Gyampo
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