The presidential candidate for NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has mounted a full-frontal attack on former President John Dramani Mahama, accusing him of poor comprehension of economic data and misrepresentation of facts regarding the Ghanaian economy. The argument between them comes at a time when there is much debate by the general public over the performance of the economy in Ghana, with both figures quite active in political discourses as Ghana heads into the 2024 general elections.
Speaking at a public forum in Accra on Monday, Bawumia, who has spearheaded the government’s economic management team, criticized Mahama's recent remarks regarding the state of the nation's economy. Mahama, who governed Ghana from 2012 to 2016, has been vocal in his criticism of the ruling government, blaming the administration of President Nana Akufo-Addo for the country's ongoing economic challenges, including high inflation and mounting public debt.
However, Bawumia hit back hard, stating that Mahama's comments were misleading and based on a lack of understanding of the complex economic metrics at play. "It is clear that former President Mahama does not understand the economic data he is talking about. He fails to recognize the underlying structural challenges and the global factors that have contributed to the economic difficulties we are facing," Bawumia said.
The Vice President pointed at the impact of exogenous shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which he said contributed to global inflationary pressures and disruptions in supply chains. He also justified the economic policies of the government on debt restructuring, fiscal discipline, and efforts toward stability of the local currency, which faced unprecedented depreciation under this administration.
In a scathing attack, Bawumia accused Mahama of "cherry-picking" economic data to suit his narrative while ignoring the wider picture of global and domestic challenges. "You cannot analyze an economy through a selective lens. It's important to consider all the facts," Bawumia explained, emphasizing how the current government has tried to tame and grow the economy despite various external shocks.
The verbal sparring between the two political heavyweights is expected to intensify as Ghana's 2024 presidential election approaches, with economic performance likely to be a central issue in the campaign.
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