In a confident rebuttal to inquiries raised by NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama, Dr., the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, issued a daring response. Bawumia has presented a list of 50 questions questioning Mahama’s leadership history and has called for a head-to-head debate between the two.
Dr. Bawumia presented his response as a chance to assess the policies, accomplishments, and governance records of the two presidential candidates in a public forum.
“I had expected him to be mature enough to confront me in a one-on-one debate, allowing the Ghanaian public to compare our policies, accomplishments, and visions,” Dr. Bawumia was quoted as saying.
He criticized Mahama for asking superficial questions and avoiding a direct debate on important issues affecting the people of Ghana.
Dr. Bawumia’s 50 questions touch on various topics such as economic management, social interventions, digitalization initiatives, and infrastructure.
He asked about various subjects, including: Mahama’s economic policies during the period of power crisis, also known as “dumsor”, the training allowances for nurses and teachers may be cancelled.
Ways to address corruption and encourage financial access Efforts to support critical healthcare services, such as ambulance provisions and services for patients with chronic illnesses, are being prioritized.
Are examples of efforts towards modernizing and improving digital infrastructure? These initiatives aim to streamline processes and make services more accessible to the population.
Development projects, such as road construction and airport expansion, along with upgrades to health facilities, are crucial for improving infrastructure and public services.
Dr. Bawumia highlighted several policies he has supported, such as Free SHS, One Constituency One Ambulance, the Ghanacard, and various agenda-setting initiatives like Agenda 111 and the Zongo Development Fund. He criticized Mahama’s previous administration for failing to fulfil campaign promises and adequately addressing systemic issues such as unemployment, healthcare access, and educational support. By comparing these initiatives to those of Mahama’s term, he highlighted the shortcomings of the former president’s governance.
The Vice President also criticized Mahama’s positions on the Free SHS program, agricultural growth, and infrastructure. He accused the NDC administration of neglecting development projects that he believes the current government has made significant progress on.
Leading up to the upcoming election, Bawumia’s call for a debate has intensified the political landscape, as he believes it will give Ghanaians the opportunity to compare the visions and performances of each candidate directly.
Below is Bawumia’s full post
Questions for John Mahama I have just read the questions from former President Mahama. I expected him to have the courage to debate me one-on-one so the Ghanaian public could compare our policies, achievements, and visions.
He should not use weak questions as an excuse to avoid a debate. I will ask the moderators to pose five simple questions during the debate. I have more important questions for him.
1. Can you name any broad-based social intervention policy that you implemented in Ghana as President?
2. Why did you run advertisements against free SHS?
3. If you think your economic management was so good how come we experienced more than four years of Dumsor under your government?
4. Why did the banking system almost collapse under your government?
5. Why did you cancel teacher training allowances?
6. Why did you cancel nursing training allowances
7. Why did the National Ambulance service virtually collapse under your government?
8. Why was your government unable to create even a quarter of the jobs that our government has created?
9. How many nurses, teachers, police officers, immigration officers and service personnel did you recruit as President?
10. Why did you implement the three-month pay policy for teachers under the government?
11. Why did you cancel the car import duty waiver for teachers and nurses?
12. Why was average agricultural growth under your government (2.9%) less than half what it is under our government
13. Why was industry growth under your government lower than what it is under our government?
14. Why was overall GDP growth under your government lower than under our government?
15. Why did your government have no industrial policy for Ghana?
16. Why do you think our government has constructed four times more roads than your government did?
17. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more hospitals than your government did?
18. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more schools than your government did?
19. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more fish landing sites than your government did?
20. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more courts than your government did?
21. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more public libraries than your government did?
22. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more sports facilities than your government did?
23. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more airports than your government did?
24. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing and equipping more TVET institutions than your government did?
25. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more interchanges than your government did?
26. Why do you think our government has overseen the provision of more NCA licensed fibre optic cable than your government did?
27. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more sanitation facilities than your government did?
28. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more waste recycling plants than your
government did?
29. Why do you think our government has provided 70% more scholarships to students than your government?
30. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more infrastructure in the Zongo communities than your government did?
31. Why do you think our government has provided more vehicles and equipment to the security services than your government did?
32. Why do you think our government has constructed and is constructing more hospitals than your government did?
33. How come your government was unable to issue any significant amount of the National Identity Card (Ghanacard)?
34. Why was your government unable to deal with the problem of Ghost workers on the government payroll?
35. During your period as president only 4% of Ghanaian adults had Tax Identification Numbers. Our government has increased it to 85%. Why were you unable to do similar?
36. Why was your government unable to digitalize the operations at the port to reduce corruption?
37. Why was your government unable to solve the problem of the lack of a functioning Ghana-wide property address system?
38. Why was your government not able to solve the problem of access to financial inclusion like we have?
39. What help did your government provide children suffering from cancer, sickle cell patients and people needing kidney dialysis?
40. Why did you fulfill only 28% of your promises in your 2012 Manifesto?
41. What measures did your government implement to address the problem that people have in paying rent advance?
42. What did you do to help people who had difficulty in enrolling for or renewing their National health insurance
memberships?
43. What did your government do specifically to promote the creative arts and tourism?
44. How did your government address the problem of getting emergency drug, blood and vaccine delivery to remote parts of Ghana in times of emergency?
45. How did your government address the problem of tertiary students who could not access student loans because they could not find guarantors?
46. As Vice-President, I have initiated or championed policies such as One Constituency One Ambulance, Agenda 111, Medical Drones, Zongo Development Fund, E-Pharmacy, Ghana card, Digital Property Address System, Mobile Money Interoperability, Paperless Ports, No Guarantor Student Loans, Ghana.Gov, Citizens App, Go-Ride, Gold for Oil, Bank of Ghana Gold Purchase Program, District Road Improvement Program (DRIP) etc. ? Can you tell Ghanaians what policies you championed or initiated as Vice-President?
47. Why were you unable to implement Free Technical and Vocational Education as we have done?
48. Why was your government unable to absorb examination registration fees for BECE and WACSSE students
49. Can you provide one coherent explanation of your 24-hour economy proposal?
50. What specific measures did you implement to combat corruption during your tenure as president?
