The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has once again criticized Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia over what he described as the mismanagement of Ghana’s economy.
Responding to Dr. Bawumia’s recent appeal to be elected president, citing his performance as Vice President, Mahama argued that Ghanaians would give Dr. Bawumia an ‘F’ grade for his handling of the economy.
During a community engagement in Amanfrom, part of the second phase of his Greater Accra regional campaign, Mahama urged the government to accept responsibility for the ongoing economic hardships facing the country.
“Recently, I heard the flagbearer of the NPP, the vice president, saying that he has performed excellently as vice president so they should promote him to president. And I said, I don’t know who marked his script and whether he marked it himself, but I can tell him that when it comes to his performance, the mark that the people of Ghana will give him for management of the economy is F, fail.
“The mark that the people of Ghana will give him for management of the economy is F. F means fail. Because when it comes to the economy, they failed completely, absolutely. And they cannot escape blame for where they have landed us.”
Mahama further elaborated on his criticism, pointing out the numerous challenges facing Ghanaians due to the current economic situation. He argued that under the leadership of Dr. Bawumia, who is also the head of the Economic Management Team, Ghana’s economy has significantly deteriorated, leaving many citizens struggling with high inflation, unemployment, and a weakened currency.
He emphasized that the hardships Ghanaians are experiencing are a direct result of poor economic policies and mismanagement by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. According to Mahama, these challenges are particularly evident in the rising cost of living, with prices of basic goods and services skyrocketing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
“Look around you—everything has become expensive. The price of food, transport, rent, and even basic household items have doubled or tripled in the last few years. This is the reality of the so-called excellent performance the Vice President is talking about. The people of Ghana are suffering, and it is because of their failure to manage the economy properly,” Mahama said.
He called on the government to acknowledge the difficulties Ghanaians are facing, rather than claiming success. He stressed that the current administration cannot distance itself from the economic problems that have caused hardship for millions of citizens.
Mahama also took the opportunity to outline his vision for turning the economy around, should the NDC be voted into power in the upcoming elections. He assured Ghanaians that the NDC has a clear plan to restore economic stability, create jobs, and alleviate the high cost of living.
“We have done it before, and we will do it again. When the NDC was in power, we stabilized the economy, created jobs, and improved the livelihoods of Ghanaians. We are coming back with a renewed commitment to fix the mess created by this government and bring relief to the people.”
Mahama further urged Ghanaians not to be swayed by the promises of the NPP, insisting that they have had ample time to deliver and have failed. He asked the electorate to carefully consider the current state of the country and vote for change.
He said, “The NPP has had over seven years to fix the economy, but they have only made things worse. They promised to make life better for Ghanaians, but today, the opposite is true. They cannot be trusted to turn things around. It’s time for a new direction.”
Mahama’s campaign message centered around economic recovery and alleviating the suffering of Ghanaians has struck a chord with many voters. As the country prepares for the next general elections, the economy is expected to be a key issue, with both parties presenting competing visions for how to address the challenges facing the nation.
In his final remarks, Mahama expressed confidence that the NDC will win the upcoming elections and deliver the necessary reforms to rebuild the economy. He urged Ghanaians to remain hopeful and assured them that relief is on the way with an NDC government.
“As we campaign across the country, we are hearing the cries of the people, and we are coming with solutions. We will not let Ghanaians down. We will work hard to fix the economy and bring back prosperity to every household. Together, we can build a better Ghana,” Mahama concluded.
With the general elections drawing closer, the political debate between the NPP and NDC continues to intensify, particularly around the handling of the economy. Mahama’s strong critique of Dr. Bawumia’s performance as Vice President, coupled with his promise to reverse the economic decline, has positioned him as a strong contender in the race to become Ghana’s next president.
