Bawumia Vs Mahama Who Is The Best Choice (Untying The Knot)
“Nyansapo wosane no badwemma” to wit: Complicated knots are loosened (or untied) by wise men.
This Akan proverb has become quite important to help Ghanaian voters decide on 7th December, 2024. Let’s go on a thought-provoking adventure.
As Ghanaians vote on December 7, voters should bare in mind that, in the face of global economic meltdown, the Nana-Bawumia government has ensured that SHS students continue attend school for Free even when there were loud calls from the opposition for Government to reconsider the policy due to its impact on the economy, to the opposition FSHS wasn’t sustainable. Health Insurance, which went on its knees under JM, has become vibrant again.
The Nana-Bawumia’s government records in road infrastructure are unmatched. Every district, municipality, and metropolitan have witnessed massive road construction. This government has constructed over 4 interchanges and 7 flyovers nationwide. The 27 years of NDC history can not boast of more than 3 interchanges in the country.
The Akufo-Addo government rolled out many digital infrastructural projects and programs, ensured the continuous flow of crude products, kept our lights on for 8years, recruited more people into the public sector than any other government in our history, resourced most state institutions particularly, the security services, restored nursing and teacher training allowance, increased public sector wages, constructed the Kumase and Tamale Airports, revamped our Ambulance Service, recruited more into the security services than any government.
As part of its youth centric policy, the Nana-Bawumia government has introduced STEM and TVET education into our education system. Various STEM and TVET school infrastructure projects are at various levels of completion. Again, this Akufo-Addo government has built more educational and health infrastructure than any government.
Obviously, amid the apparent economic slowdown Ghana has faced over the last couple of months, the country, didn’t go into recession. There was no retrenchment of public sector workers. In fact, the period has witnessed more recruitment to the sector. We never encountered a single case of fuel and basic necessities shortage.
This is why the popular popular Akan proverb “Nyansapo wosane no badwemma” to wit: Complicated knots are loosened (or untied) by wise men, suffice in Ghana’s upcoming elections. Countries would always be faced with challenges, but how leadership addresses the challenges is what matters.
Every Ghanaian including the writer of this article have felt the impact of our current economic challenges but that in no way makes Mahama any better choice for this country, and this is a fact majority of our NDC siblings acknowledge.
JM’s Legacy
Four years under JM was one of the darkest periods in our politics. Even when there was no global economic crisis, JM incompetently sent us to the IMF. This resulted in the removal of subsidies on Electricity and, Petroleum products. Under JM there was a ban recruitment of public sector workers. Of course, JM left an everlasting legacy, Ghana witness it’s worse energy crisis under this man whom they are repainting to sell to voters as a new person. Numerous companies collapsed due to the 4 years of power crisis.
Some of JM’s policy decision to address this economic quagmire was to introduce 3 months’ pay policy, cancellation of nursing, and teacher training allowance. Under JM, there were uncountable strikes and agitations in the public sector. Even schools were deprived of common chalks. Suffice to say at the time, there was nothing like Free SHS. Unemployment was worse under JM. This was the time in which we first witnessed the creation of unemployed associations in the country. During the government of JM, he could not even pay the salaries of less than 200 junior doctors, prompting them to go on demonstrations.
When JM was Vice President, then President Mills initiated an investigation over corruption for his role in the Airbus saga, as President his name came up in various corruption scandals, with the famous being the Ford saga. The cost of one interchange under John Dramani Mahama could construct two interchanges under Akufo-Addo.
Of course, JM did no better with our economy.
Let me make it clear that The list of JM’s failures and the positives of the Nana Bawumia government are not exhaustive enough in this write-up but at least this should help the memory of the average voter to understand our current political situation.
Indeed, we may have a short memory, but we have not forgotten.
Dr. Bawumia as Vice President has achieved more than what JM achieved as both Vice President and President. None can compare the records of Jane Opoku Agyeman to Napo. Jane was an abysmal failure that her name came up for dismissal until Amissah-Arthur.
In the midst of crisis, we have seen which of the contenders for our Presidential office is progressive and retrogressive. Once again, the Akans have a saying that “Dua kontonkyitonkyi na ema yehunu odwomfoɔ (It is the severely crooked wood that shows us the perfect carver).
This is what Napo means when he says Ghana would choose between light and darkness on 7th December.
From the foregoing, it is evidently clear that we should bury the dead goat on 7th December because it’s rotten and stinking. Such bad luck and experience should be left in the past. We have seen JM as both Vice President and President and we are yet to witness Bawumia as President.
The future of Ghana is better in the hands of the Bawumia-Napo alliance.
Another Akan proverb states that “Deɛ wɔ foro dua pa na yɛ pia no” (we support those who are on a good course).
Credit: Napo_Inspires Research Team
