Osei Kufour Writes: Victory 2024, NPP Cannot Skip Bawumia

Oftentimes, in Ghana’s recent political dispensation, there have been innovative ways of FACT CHECKING public statements made by politicians who lead their respective political parties. This innovation has got to do with the reproduction of videos and audious in respect of what politicians say when they are in opposition against what is done by these same folks when they are in government.

In the case of the NPP, without mincing words, substantial numbers of videos about Dr Mahamudu Bawumia are subject of broadcast and dispersed across major social media and mainstream media networks. The uniqueness of these videos featuring Dr Mahamudu Bawumia lies in the presentation of reasonable surgery of the wanton mismanagement of Ghana’s economy by then NDC/Mahama government and his proposition of piercing, practical and intellectual approaches to proper governance and management of the Ghanaian economy.

But, isn’t it surprising that, among the NPP’S ‘men’ which we pride of having and who as well mounted several campaign stages in the lead up to elections, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia remains the only reference point easily pointed at by these known and unknown critics of government? Why not the likes of Alan, Afriyie Akoto, Ghartey, etc ? What could be specially particular about the messages from Dr Mahamudu Bawumia? It has been said that, the dynamism introduced into our body politics by Dr Bawumia such as Economic lectures, provision of special educational and living amenities such as school desks, mechanised boreholes, etc; his courageous ability to inspire the disillusioned masses to renew their faith in the NPP coupled with his admirable boldness in giving assurance and hope to restore lost opportunities due to NDC’s mismanagement; among others, informed the ordinary Ghanaian people to renew their confidence in the NPP.

There is no gainsay about the obvious that, the points enumerated above and other reasons culminated in the overwhelming election of the NPP back to power in the December 7 2016 and the 2020 national elections. While the motive of these critics and opposition NDC in the reproduction of these videos of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia may relate to fact checking the NPP’S credibility; it, of course, clearly discloses the meaningful and substantially significant contributions and role played by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in restoring hope and convincing the Ghanaian people to entrust their vote with the NPP in the struggling and difficult days for power, ie. 2008-2016 . But if it appears that the recurrence of these videos about Dr Bawumia is to test the credibility of the NPP, it will as well mean that Dr Bawumia’s significance in elections cannot be underestimated in any way by the NPP. Moreover, now that critics of the government, mainly the opposition NDC, are demonstrating their discomfort by the natural admiration and affection from the Ghanaian people and the faculty of knowledge, credited to Dr Bawumia; one is compelled to accept that, the NPP cannot do without Dr Bawumia as far as the 2024 elections is concern.

Essentially, to establish the worth of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is to consider the efforts and his role in government and to contrast the same with his account then in opposition. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia promised the restoration of Nursing and Teacher trainee allowances which was cancelled by the NDC. Indeed, the NPP government restored the same. Dr Bawumia spoke of the abundance of water and toilet facilities when the NPP was returned to power. Perhaps, Dr Bawumia was proposing an effective solution to the recurring cholera epidemic which the NDC/Mahama administration had been clueless about mitigating and which had engulfed the Ghanaian nation. Subsequent to the NPP’S assumption of office, there has been an increase in toilet facilities and water systems by the Sanitation ministry, Special initiative Ministry and the Zongo Ministry.

When President Akufo-Addo pronounced that the free SHS was doable, the NDC maliciously attacked this lofty policy. Today, the free SHS is not only a reality but is being effectively delivered by the Akufo-Addo administration to the dislike of the NDC. One may ask, how did Dr Bawumia become known in political circles as the ‘digital man?’ It has got to do with his commitment towards changing the inefficient status quo which has been an inheritance of the colonial way of doing things and thus unproductive. Today, with the exceptional commitment of Dr Bawumia to digitalisation, Ghana can boast of a better health care delivery service, a better address system, a better and transparent port system which effectively reduced the port charges on certain imports. During the run up to the 2016 elections, Dr Bawumia promised the north, 1 village, 1 dam and the government had delivered. Dr Bawumia was the first to make public pronouncements subject to 1 District 1 Factory and the NPP is happy to note the many factories in Ghana. This obviously is the NPP government’s support to the private sectors to define the role they play in making Ghana a better place.

It has been said and I have repeated the same. Let me mention it here again that the only aim of every existing political party is to win elections. That said, records of political parties alone have proven to be insufficient to win elections. The other ingredient that makes it sufficient is the credibility of the person who bears the flag of that respective political party. It is irrefutable that the credibility of Dr Bawumia is beyond question as far as governance and politics is concerned. Indeed, what has become very admirable of Dr Bawumia is in his ability to defend his account with facts and data.

The indisputable truth, that has been said, is that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia remains a force which is politically perishing the NDC. This past weekend, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia effectively dismantled the NDC’s irrationally tasteless propaganda against the NPP in respect of economic management. It is a plain fact that the Akufo-Addo administration, unfortunately hit by an external force in the form of a global covid-19 pandemic, will face tougher times to overcome the negative consequences. On the other hand, the NDC/Mahama administration had no such external force against it. This notwithstanding, the economic indicators favors the NPP as better managers of the Ghanaian economy than the NDC. This fact is not to deny the existence of hardship, but it suggests the relentless efforts of the government to reduce hardships.

If Dr Bawumia made himself available for the NPP for as long as eight (8) years in opposition and what will become eight (8) years in government, it bears repeating that the NDC as well as the known and unknown critics of the NPP view Dr Bawumia as a threat against the NDC’s survival. The NPP therefore must accept that it cannot go into the 2024 elections without Dr Bawumia. It is believed that the Presidential Primaries is a foregone conclusion in favour of Dr Bawumia thus, the NPP is encouraged to beat its sword into ploughshares after the Presidential Primaries. The NPP must break the 8 in the interest of the Ghanaian people. For victory in 2024, Dr Bawumia cannot be skipped by the NPP.

By: Kwame Osei Kufour,
Apagya fie,
Kumasi
[email protected]

Source: peacefmonline.com