Senior lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Dr. Michael Ayamga has labelled Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s address, detailing his vision for the country if elected president as empty.
Speaking in an interview on Breakfast Today on Dreamz FM, Dr. Ayamga stated that the more than 2 hours address by the flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) proffered no practical solutions to the challenges confronting the country.
The development economics lecturer said he had looked forward to hearing transformational policies comparable to the 24-hour economy proposal by the National Democratic Congress’ flagbearer John Dramani Mahama.
“The document is empty. I wanted Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to present me something so that I can put 24-hour economy on the right, Dr. Bawumia’s policy on the left and compare them which he didn’t do. There is no serious policy issue to discuss in the whole of Bawumia’s speech. When I look at it and analyze, we have a very huge debt burden, no solution. We have high rate of unemployment, no solution. We have a very high cost of living, no solution. We have tax burden, no solution,” he stated.
However, the Vice-President failed to do that but spent his entire address attempting to absolve himself of blame for the prevailing economic crisis.
This act of the NPP flagbearer, in his view, is cowardly and a mark of incompetence.
Dr. Bawumia, speaking at a public address, shared what he said are achievements of the Akufo-Addo-led government and his vision for the country if he is elected president.
He stated that he has efficiently assisted president Akufo-Addo to implement his vision and is seeking an opportunity to chart a new path.
He pledged to implement measures that will reduce cost of living including abolishing taxes imposed by the Akufo-Addo-led government, which he is a key member.
He also spoke about his role as chairman of the Economic Management Team (EMT), stating that the EMT has no decision making powers but advisory.
The pronouncements by the Vice-President, many say, are subtle attempt to distance himself from the performance of the government and absolve himself from blame for the prevailing crisis.
Dr. Michael Ayamga, who shares similar sentiments, chastised the Vice-President for failing to own up to the mess he and the government created and seeking to absolve himself of blame.
Expressing his disappointment in the Vice-President, Dr. Ayamga said his address is an insult to the intelligence of the Ghanaian people.
“What Dr. Bawumia did was to belittle Ghanaians. He disrespected us. He didn’t respect the audience. In fact, he placed our vulnerability almost at infirmity. And that is what he came to present that thing”.
