Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
No democratic government in the history of the country enjoyed the amount of goodwill the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is enjoying today. But this is predicted to run out in the coming days and when it is done, government won’t engage in hide and seek on critical issues anymore.
If care is not taken, the next presidential poll, which is in 2020, won’t be about President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and what he has done. It will rather be about what he failed to do especially in the case of attacks on the country by NPP terror groups.
There appears to be a subtle plot, aided by some media houses, to refocus the attention of Ghanaians from the mayhem visited on innocent citizens by NPP 'sponsored hoodlums' onto the premature achievements of the government.
The President and some of his government appointees have attempted pathetically to belittle the nauseating and violent behaviour of the NPP groups. These groups, largely the Invincible and Delta Forces, have carried out string of violent attacks across the country and they have not been punished for them.
Being more catholic than the Pope, the President has sought to remind Ghanaians about something they are aware of that he doesn’t subscribe to lawlessness. That might have been true in the past, but it doesn’t apply any longer. The President has to share in the guilt of the deeds of these violent groups. He deserves in an equal measure to be singled out for opprobrium. We must hold the bull by the horn.
Rather than disciplining these groups that are engaging in domestic terrorism, President Akufo-Addo has been making more promises to add up to his already unfulfilled ones. He says one thing and his government does the opposite.
As he marks 100 days in power after successfully ousting former President John Mahama and his gang, the President’s achievement should be seen more in the minuses than the pluses. Although he has cancelled some nuisance taxes, the real impact on the economy hasn’t been felt. Perhaps government appointees are feeling it in their pockets.
So when Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia took to the lectern at the Joy News’ 100 days Townhall meeting on Monday to announce a historic 103 achievements within four months into power, he did one thing. He didn’t just tell the audience what he wanted them to hear, he managed to massage the achievements of the government. He sold to them what President Akufo-Addo wants to be communicated to its terrified citizens.
The Vice President said they have saved Ghana the sum of $300 million through the cancellation of some Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) entered into by the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) government. He indicated to the gathering they have directed four other Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to delay their services.
The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank also said they have upped the country’s foreign reserve which was less than $6 billion to $8 billion. “With this achievement...you have a lot more confidence in the economy and you see stability return to the currency,” he had said.
Dr Bawumia also indicated government has paid all the outstanding allowance totalling of $39 million owed military personnel by the past administration. He also said they have increased peacekeeping allowance from $31 to $35. He said the NDC also made similar promise but it was unable to live up to expectation.
These achievements are laudable and represent what the average citizen wants to hear. But the reasoning that has always been missing in a robust argument is that without security, economic achievement is but an orphaned ship on a turbulent high sea. Recording these achievements in a country terrorised by some riotous groups linked to the government won’t bring the relief expected by citizens and for which informed their choice of candidate at the polls.
Renowned for his appreciation of the economy, which he used it greatly against the NDC in 2016, the Vice President appears to have limited knowledge about politics. He is astute in the field of economics but the political emotional intelligence is missing.
His failure to weigh the political implications the 'vicious dogs' the NPP has released into the country will have on his government and party is legendary. The NPP is dwindling its political fortunes in the coming days if the President doesn’t get his security appointees especially National Security Minister, Kan Dapaah to work.
I think the record 103 achievements chalked by the government within 100 days should be increased to 115 to include all the attacks executed by the Invincible and Delta Forces. An account of Akufo-Addo's achievements that eliminate to highlight his failure in the area of security is irrelevant and mere propaganda.
It is true this isn’t the country Mahama governed from 2013 to 2016. The country appears newer, vibrant and more willing to bring an end to corruption. There is also a new spirit to make things right in a community of brotherliness and unity but this will fail if this poisoned atmosphere of seizures and attacks are not curtailed.
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Disclaimer: Views expressed here are the Author's and do not necessarily reflect the position of management of Multimedia or Myjoyonline.com. The writer Austin Brakopowers works as a journalist at Joy99.7FM and could be reached via [email protected] or www.brakopowers.com