Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has strongly criticised former President John Dramani Mahama, asserting that he has no grounds to comment on economic mismanagement.
Speaking at his media engagement in Accra on Sunday, Dr Bawumia defended the current administration’s economic policies and highlighted the shortcomings of Mahama’s tenure.
He pointed to the economic challenges and high levels of debt that characterised Mahama’s presidency.
He emphasised that the current government has made significant strides in stabilising the economy, reducing inflation, and fostering growth.
Dr. Bawumia outlined various initiatives undertaken by the administration to improve the economic landscape, including the implementation of fiscal discipline measures, investment in infrastructure, and the promotion of digitalisation.
He argued that these efforts have led to a more resilient and robust economy.
“Sometimes I get a little surprised about the former President when he talks about economic mismanagement because he should know his own record. We don’t all have short memories, really, we don’t have short memories. His record on economic mismanagement and what he left us with, in 2016 was an abysmal record.”
“Just an abysmal record. we had endured ‘dumsor’ for 4 years, with all the destruction of industries and livelihoods that happened. People died because of ‘dumsor’… The National Health Service was virtually collapsing…The National Ambulance was virtually dead… Unemployment as a result was very high, GDP declined..Industry growth had collapsed because of ‘dumsor.’
“…You had many challenges he left us with. So, when you juxtapose that record with what we have been able to do in these last eight years, almost it’s night and day. We have created at least 2.1 million jobs in the last 7 years… We have kept public sector workers employed…We didn’t lay anybody off. We’ve built more roads.”
“…We have built more railways than any other government in the fourth republic…We have built more libraries than any other government. During his time he built only three public libraries. We have built 54 major libraries,” he stated.
