Former President John Mahama has slammed Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for failing to provide concrete solutions to the country’s economic challenges and instead promoting digitization as a remedy for every issue.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, referring to Dr. Bawumia as ‘Abrantie’ rather than mentioning him by name, argued that the Vice President has not effectively addressed key economic problems, including the exchange rate, which is adversely affecting many local businesses.
“President Akufo-Addo told us he was bringing someone from the Bank of Ghana to be his vice president. The reason, the president said, was because he was an economic specialist who would put measures in place to bring us economic relief,” Mahama told rally attendees at a campaign event as part of his Greater Accra Region tour.
Former President Mahama stressed that the Cedi’s performance against the United States Dollar was better when he was leaving office in January 2017 relative to the situation nearly eight years on.
“When I was handing over to them, the cedi was trading at GH¢4 to a dollar. When Abrantie Bank of Ghana came, the cedi is now trading at GH¢16 to a dollar,” he said of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who served for a period as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank before being nominated as running mate to then Candidate Nana Akufo-Addo.
He continued: “This gentleman who came has stopped talking about the economy. When he is asked about anything on the economy, he responds ‘digitalization’. When he is asked about the cedi depreciation he answers ‘digital’. When he is asked about what he will do about the sky-high prices of goods and services, he says ‘digital’.
Contrasting the vice-president’s response on the economy to the opposition’s vision, Mr. Mahama promised rally attendees that his party had individuals who had the capacity to turn the country’s fortunes around.
He urged them to support his fourth bid for the presidency.