The Founding President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, has expressed reservations about the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s failure to address the shortcomings of the New Patriotic Party administration during his address yesterday at the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
Mr Cudjoe while reacting to the New Patriotic Party flagbearer’s address in a Facebook post on Thursday, February 8 2024 criticized Dr Bawumia for spending so much time to recount his government achievements, which he argued had been extensively highlighted in the past by himself and other leading members of the ruling party.
According to Mr Cudjoe, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia should have also balance his address by highlighting some of the shortcomings of the governing New Patriotic Party, particularly in its fiscal management of the country.
Mr Cudjoe strongly asserted that the numerous instances of fiscal misbehaviour and misconduct on the part of the ruling New Patriotic Party administration are what led Ghana to receive the most unfavourable macroeconomic rankings over the years and its attendant hastened economic decline in recent times.
The Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe further lamented over the current government’s decision to subject Ghanaians to the domestic debt exchange program and called for the need for Vice President to acknowledge such shortfalls on the part of his government.
Furthermore, the seasoned Governance and Anti-corruption crusader questioned why the Vice President failed to pass comment on some of the unsustainable projects his administration has undertaken.
Mr Cudjoe also called for accountability for projects including the controversial cathedral and multi-million dollar telecom, oil, and gold revenue monitoring systems which have been done under the New Patriotic administration led by President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Franklin Cudjoe Chastises VEEP For Praising BOG
Moreover, the Founding President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe chastised the Vice President and the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for praising the Bank of Ghana during his address given its alleged role in creating a significant fiscal deficit in Ghana’s history.
According to Mr Cudjoe, the Vice President should have rather promised Ghanaians how he would ensure accountability for questionable projects and financial decisions that may have contributed to the nation’s economic challenges if elected as President of the country during his address last night.
“Not long ago, Liberians lamented, that President Weah who promised to keep them in his pre-election photograph had taken them out of the picture after winning power. President Weah disagreed; he said the pre-election photograph was intact, and that it was Liberians who had taken themselves out of the photograph. He lost the bid to be re-elected”.
Franklin Cudjoe
Mr Cudjoe emphasized that leadership requires taking responsibility for mistakes and ensuring that citizens are carried along in the decision-making process.
Mr Cudjoe also expressed uncertainty about Dr Bawumia’s willingness to own up to past wrongs, highlighting the importance of accepting liabilities that may arise.
However, Mr Cudjoe concluded his statement by commending the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for his resolve to build an inclusive society based on a value system that rewards hard work, incorruptible behaviour, enhances business flourishing with simple taxes such as the flat tax, deepen public-private sector partnership to construct and manage critical infrastructure among others.
Mr Cudjoe further stressed that the Vice President resolved to create a system that would ensure the government’s efficiency with the very bold promise of 50 ministers and deputies, fight corruption through the tighter procurement process, ensure value for money in project management, add value to our mineral resources are all significant ‘game-changers’.
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