Vice President of IMANI Ghana, Kofi Bentil, has voiced support for Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, advocating the importance of giving him a ‘fair and objective hearing’ ahead of his lecture scheduled for 7th February.
In a post on social media, Bentil argued that every individual deserves a fair chance, citing the opportunity given to former President John Dramani Mahama to lead the nation.
He emphasized that Dr. Bawumia, despite his current position, has never held the presidency and thus should not be pre-judged based on his role as Vice President.
Praising Dr. Bawumia’s tenure as Vice President, Bentil described him as ‘the best VP ever,’ lauding his integrity and effectiveness, even under challenging conditions.
“The VP position in Ghana, apart from standing in when the president is away (and he can’t make any serious decisions), it is totally powerless! He is like an advisor! There’s a good reason Kwame Nkrumah refused to have a Vice President! Indeed the Minister of Finance has more constitutional power than the VP in managing our finances and the EMT has zero power to effect its decisions.”
“They advise the President who acts through his ministers!!! I trust VP Bawumia. Because he has been the best VP ever. Even under trying circumstances, he has shown himself not corrupt and indeed has been effective in delivering some crucial transformations,” he wrote.
Kofi Bentil urged Ghanaians to keep an open mind and give Dr. Bawumia a fair hearing during the lecture, asserting that making an informed choice is paramount and cautioned against the pitfalls of prematurely closing off potential leadership options.
His plea has, however, incurred the chagrin of the National Communication Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, who argued Ghanaians gave Bawumia ample hearing in 2016 when he held countless lecturers and fora to propound lofty but deceptive economic rhetorics.
“At each of those lectures, Bawumia diagnosed the challenges of Ghana’s economy and proceeded to fix our problems rhetorically. Ghanaians were so much in awe of Bawumia’s “charm” and “wizardry” that they trusted him to manage Ghana’s economy.”
“Need I remind you, that at a time when Bawumia as chairman of the Economic Management Team, has supervised the total destruction of the economy. What is required of him, is ACTION and not lectures? This is trite and you of all people should know that,” he added.
Below is the exchange
Kofi Bentil’s write-up:
Every man deserves a fair hearing. We gave Prez Mahama a chance to be President, the least we can do is give Dr Bawumia a fair and objective hearing.
He is not President, and has never been President! I have no doubt he will be better!
The VP position in Ghana, apart from standing in when the president is away (and he can’t make any serious decisions), it is totally powerless! he is like an advisor! There’s a good reason Kwame Nkrumah refused to have a Vice President!
Indeed the Minister of Finance has more constitutional power than the VP in managing our finances and the EMT has zero power to effect its decisions. They advise the President who acts through his ministers!!!
I trust VP Bawumia. Because he has been the best VP ever. Even under trying circumstances, he has shown himself not corrupt and indeed has been effective in delivering some crucial transformations.
I am entitled like everyone to my beliefs and choices and I believe he is a better choice.
All the rest of us need to do, is give the man a fair hearing. Of course, you’re entitled to your choice but you cheat yourself if you close your ears.
Sammy Gyamfi’s response
Dear Kofi Bentil,
I just read your write-up calling on Ghanaians to give Bawumia a hearing, ahead of his needless and useless lecture, scheduled for 7th February.
For your information, Ghanaians gave Bawumia ample hearing in 2016, when he held countless lectures and fora, to propound lofty but deceptive economic rhetorics.
At each of those lectures, Bawumia diagnosed the challenges of Ghana’s economy and proceeded to fix our problems rhetorically. Ghanaians were so much in awe of Bawumia’s “charm” and “wizardry” that they trusted him to manage Ghana’s economy.
Need I remind you, that at a time when Bawumia as chairman of the Economic Management Team, has supervised the total destruction of the economy, what is required of him, is ACTION and not lectures? This is trite and you of all people should know that.
As for your claim that Bawumia has only been an advisor to the failed Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, even President Akufo-Addo and Bawumia himself will disagree with you on that.
If that were so, why do you and other NPP surrogates continue to give Bawumia credit for the Agenda 111 initiative, the Drone delivery system, government’s so-called digitalization initiatives, among others?
Can you tell us why President Akufo-Addo in his 2018 SONA, lauded Bawumia’s “stellar leadership” of the Economic Management Team, and credited him for what he described as positive economic results at the time?
If the logic of your argument is to be accepted, then on what basis did Bawumia in opposition, pose 170 questions to then Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur?
What do you take Ghanaians for Mr. Bentil? Some zombies?
It is a fact that your new Boss Bawumia, is responsible for the unprecedented economic mess Ghanaians are currently faced with. No amount of political subterfuge can change this fact.
Accept this truth and spare yourself the ordeal of trying to whitewash a failed and discredited economic messiah, who has proven to be hopelessly empty and pathetically dishonest.
This agenda of yours is dead on arrival (“yaamutu”), try another one, please.
SAMMY GYAMFI ESQ.