By: Ashiadey Dotse
Former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has criticised Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the 2024 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for trying to shift blame for the party’s defeat in the December 7, 2024 general elections.
During his ‘Thank You Tour‘, Dr. Bawumia listed several reasons for the NPP’s loss, including arrogance in leadership, the high cost of living, failure to reshuffle government officials, the unpopular Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), and the “haircut” policy under the IMF debt restructuring programme.
He said these issues had worsened the economic hardships faced by many Ghanaians.
However, Dr. Boakye-Danquah said Dr. Bawumia’s attempt to distance himself from these failures was unfair and opportunistic.
He argued that as Vice President, Dr. Bawumia had the power to influence decisions but failed to do so when it mattered most.
“He had the platform to voice his concerns but chose not to, only now trying to separate himself from the government’s shortcomings,” Dr. Boakye-Danquah said.
He also accused Dr. Bawumia of staying silent during the controversial Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), which caused severe financial difficulties and led to protests by pensioners.
According to Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, Bawumia’s recent comments trying to dissociate from the DDEP show a lack of collective responsibility.
“Blaming President Akufo-Addo’s leadership alone for the economic challenges, including the cost-of-living crisis and fuel price hikes, just days before the elections, is particularly disloyal,” Dr. Boakye-Danquah added.
