Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia Critiques President Mahama’s Governance, Labels NDC’s 24-Hour Economy a “Demolition Exercise”

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer for the 2028 elections, delivered a scathing assessment of President John Mahama’s administration during the NPP’s National Delegates Conference in Kumasi. Addressing over 7,000 delegates, Bawumia characterized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s first two years in office as a series of unfulfilled pledges and “scam” promises. Central to his critique was the transformation of the NDC's flagship 24-hour economy initiative into what he described as a “24-hour demolition exercise.” He argued that the policy has failed to create jobs for the youth and has instead burdened existing businesses with rising operational costs, particularly through increased electricity tariffs that contradict previous government claims.

The NPP flagbearer detailed a litany of stalled projects and broken commitments, most notably the unestablished Women’s Development Bank, which he noted has yet to open its doors to a single market woman despite being a core campaign promise. Bawumia also pointed to the deteriorating state of the Free Senior High School (SHS) program, citing poor student feeding arrangements, placement difficulties for graduates, and the persistence of the double-track system. He further criticized the Mahama administration for the slow progress of the Agenda 111 hospital projects and accused the government of failing cocoa farmers by not delivering on the promised GH¢6,500 producer price, which he labeled a deception.

Beyond economic concerns, Bawumia raised alarms regarding national security and Ghana’s international reputation following significant cocaine seizures in Europe, including a 3.9-tonne shipment linked to Ghana. He argued that the country is gaining notoriety for drug trafficking and demanded the formation of a bipartisan parliamentary committee to investigate the financiers behind these shipments, rather than focusing solely on couriers. He defended the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme—an initiative from the previous NPP administration—as a key driver of currency stability, while warning that current mismanagement by the NDC threatens the country’s economic health and the livelihoods of teachers and nurses awaiting automatic postings.

The conference also featured calls for accountability from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who condemned alleged attempts by the government to intimidate dissenters, specifically mentioning the arrest of nurse Salomey Awitey Baffoe. Former Health Minister Bernard Okoe-Boye added that the NDC is “good at announcing concepts but poor at execution,” urging the media to scrutinize government claims. As the NPP prepares for the 2028 electoral cycle, Bawumia emphasized that the party has already begun developing its governance program and urged members to remain united to offer a credible alternative to the current administration.