Kofi Tontoh, a political aide to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has firmly rejected the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) recent call for a “reset” of Ghana’s development path. Speaking in an interview with Selorm Adonoo on “The Point of View,” Mr. Tontoh argued that the country does not need a reset but rather an “upgrade” to build on the progress made under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration over the past eight years.
During the interview, Mr. Tontoh articulated his disagreement with the NDC’s stance, which suggests that Ghana needs a fundamental restructuring or restart in its governance and development agenda. He emphasized that while the country has faced numerous challenges, significant achievements have been made that warrant building upon, rather than starting anew. According to Mr. Tontoh, a reset would disregard the progress Ghana has achieved and risk undoing years of hard-earned development gains. He stated that the nation has achieved so much in the last eight years despite the challenges faced, arguing that the focus should be on upgrading rather than resetting.
Mr. Tontoh questioned the rationale behind the NDC’s call for a reset, arguing that such a suggestion lacks clarity and foresight. He posed several rhetorical questions to challenge the notion of a reset, asking what exactly Ghana would be resetting to — whether it would mean returning to a time marked by power outages, cholera outbreaks, or economic hardships. He noted that a reset implies starting over from a point of failure or crisis, which he believes is not an accurate representation of Ghana’s current situation.
Ghana, under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Bawumia, has made significant strides across multiple sectors, including education, infrastructure, digitalization, and health. Mr. Tontoh asserted that the progress achieved should not be disregarded, but rather built upon. He argued that instead of going back to square one, Ghana should focus on enhancing what has been built, fixing what needs to be fixed, and improving where there is room for improvement.
Mr. Tontoh outlined several key areas where the NPP government has made notable progress. He highlighted the implementation of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy, which has provided education to thousands of Ghanaian students who might otherwise have been unable to afford it. He also pointed to the government’s efforts in digitalization, which have transformed various sectors such as banking, public administration, and healthcare, making them more efficient and accessible to citizens. Additionally, he mentioned the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative, which has boosted agricultural productivity and contributed to food security in Ghana. He praised the government’s efforts in improving infrastructure, including roads, railways, and ports, which he argued are critical to the country’s economic development.
Mr. Tontoh also criticized the NDC’s record during its time in government, contending that their tenure was marked by severe challenges, including frequent power outages, or “dumsor,” which crippled businesses and households. He referenced economic challenges such as high inflation rates and fiscal deficits that plagued the country under NDC leadership. He further cited the cholera outbreak that claimed hundreds of lives in 2014 and 2015 as an example of a public health failure that occurred under the NDC administration. He recalled comments made by former President John Dramani Mahama, who once remarked that his government had “chewed the meat down to the bone,” indicating a depletion of national resources.
Instead of a reset, Mr. Tontoh urged Ghanaians to focus on a forward-looking approach that builds on existing successes while addressing remaining challenges. He argued that the NPP’s vision for an “upgrade” includes further investments in technology, education, healthcare, and infrastructure to modernize the economy and improve the quality of life for all citizens. An upgrade, he explained, is about taking what has been built, learning from mistakes, and making continuous improvements.
Mr. Tontoh appealed to Ghanaians to support the NPP’s vision for an upgrade, arguing that it is the more practical and beneficial path forward for the nation. He called on citizens to critically assess the progress made over the past eight years and to recognize the tangible improvements in their daily lives. He also encouraged the electorate to stay engaged and informed about the government’s policies and achievements, rather than being swayed by what he termed as “political rhetoric” from the opposition.
He admitted that while everything may not be perfect, the country is on the right path and should not be derailed by calls for an unnecessary reset. In conclusion, Mr. Tontoh’s remarks reflect a broader debate within Ghanaian politics about the direction of the country’s development. While the NDC advocates for a fundamental restructuring, the NPP believes the focus should be on consolidating gains and pursuing continuous improvement. As Ghana approaches another election cycle, these differing visions will undoubtedly shape the discourse and choices of the electorate. The coming months will reveal whether the call for a reset or an upgrade resonates more strongly with the people of Ghana.
