Election 2024 about economy, not your irrelevant 50 questions

National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has criticized Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for what he describes as a failure to directly answer pressing economic questions, responding instead with a barrage of “irrelevant” counter-questions.

Speaking to supporters at a campaign event at Savalegu on Wednesday, October 30, Mahama said, “I woke up this morning and saw 50 questions from him. It looks like our Vice President has just memorised these things like we used to learn poems in primary school.”

He added, “I asked you five simple questions that Ghanaians want you to answer, and instead, you respond with, ‘How many compost plants did you build?’ That’s not the issue in Ghana today.”

Mahama’s Five Key Economic Questions

Mahama’s original questions focused on what he sees as critical failures in Ghana’s current economic policy and areas he believes the Vice President has not adequately addressed. Mahama’s questions to Bawumia included:

Exchange Rate Stability: Mahama asked Bawumia to explain his handling of the exchange rate, as the cedi has consistently depreciated against major currencies under the NPP government. He reminded Bawumia of previous promises to stabilize the cedi.

Rising National Debt: Mahama questioned how Ghana’s debt has ballooned under the NPP administration and asked why, despite the increased borrowing, the country’s infrastructure and public services have not seen proportional improvement.

Inflation Control: Highlighting the country’s high inflation rates, Mahama asked how Bawumia plans to tackle the rising cost of living that is affecting the average Ghanaian.

Job Creation and Unemployment: Mahama pointed to the current unemployment rate, challenging Bawumia to outline clear solutions for job creation and a sustainable plan to tackle youth unemployment.

Shift from Economic Management to Digitalization: Mahama criticized what he called Bawumia’s shift in focus from core economic management to digitalization efforts, arguing that while digitalization is beneficial, it does not address the fundamental economic challenges facing the country.

Bawumia’s Counter-Questions

Dr. Bawumia’s 50 questions covered a range of issues including economic management, social interventions, digitalization initiatives, and infrastructure. He posed questions on topics such as:

Mahama’s economic policies during the power crisis (“dumsor”) period. Cancellations of training allowances for nurses and teachers. Measures taken to combat corruption and promote financial inclusion. Specific efforts to support critical healthcare services, like ambulance provisions and services for chronic illness patients
Initiatives for digital transformation, such as Ghana’s national identity card program (Ghanacard) and the digital address system. Development projects, including road construction, airport expansion, and health facility upgrades

Mahama’s Critique on Bawumia’s Response

Mahama argued that the Vice President’s response ignored the urgent economic questions affecting everyday Ghanaians, and accused him of deflecting from his performance as the head of Ghana’s economic management team.

“You don’t need a debate to answer the five questions. When you asked Amissah Arthur the five equations, you didn’t agree to a debate for him to answer them. Ghanaians are asking you five simple questions, just answer them.

“Akufo-Addo too I have given him two questions, he should come and answer them. That’s all Ghanaians are looking for. You have destroyed the economy, that is the truth.”

“Even if you look at the 50 questions, he asked me, he has skillfully avoided the economy. There is nothing about the economy in those 50 questions. Why are you running away from the economy. Because you were brought in to fix the economy. The economy now in a terrible state just answer the five questions I have asked you on behalf of the people of Ghana, simple,” he stated.