PV Jantuah, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former presidential staffer, has criticized Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, accusing him of being ungrateful to the party.
Jantuah contends Bawumia’s claim of sacrificing his political life for the NPP is misplaced, as the party has actually done more for him than vice versa.
In an interview on the Angel Broadcasting Network (ABN), Jantuah stated the NPP provided Bawumia with his biggest political opportunity by selecting him as Vice President, despite not being a member of the party.
“Dr. Konadu Apraku and Dr. Arthur Kennedy would bear me witness on that, and Kwabena Agyepong will bear me witness on that,” Jantuah affirmed.
Jantuah dismissed Bawumia’s claims of loyalty and sacrifices to the NPP, pointing out that the party made an exception by granting him a waiver to become a member, a running mate, and eventually the Vice President, without encountering significant obstacles.
Although members of Bawumia’s campaign team have echoed his assertions of sacrifice for the NPP, some party members, including Jantuah, have questioned the appropriateness of such statements.
He argued that if Bawumia genuinely appreciates the opportunities the party has afforded him, he should refrain from making ungrateful grandiose claims.
Jantuah challenged the Vice President’s defence of the party during the 2008 election petition.
He questioned whether Bawumia, who was one of the three petitioners, expected someone else to take up the case.
“So who did he expect to enter the docks when it was he and others who took the matter to the Supreme Court? Was he expecting Alan Kyerematen to have defended his petition at the court?” Jantuah queried.
Jantuah also criticized Gideon Boako, the Vice President’s spokesperson, stating that his statements are doing more harm than good to the Bawumia campaign.
He mentioned claims made by Boako regarding the Vice President’s new vision and self-funding of his campaign, emphasizing the need for transparency.
“If what his team is saying is true, then he should declare his source of funding, especially if in the last seven years, he never used his salaries for anything,” Jantuah demanded.
While acknowledging Bawumia’s significant contributions to the NPP since 2014, Jantuah cautioned against the Vice President’s strategy of presenting a new vision and attempting to detach himself from the Akufo-Addo government, suggesting it would not be beneficial to his campaign.