Bawumia challenges Mahama to debate, replies 5 questions with 50 questions 

In an exchange of words and policy challenges, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also the presidential candidate for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has responded to recent critiques from the main opposition candidate and former President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). 

The back-and-forth has taken centre stage ahead of the December 7 presidential election, with Dr. Bawumia not only responding to Mr. Mahama’s inquiries but also daring him to a public debate.

Mr. Mahama had publicly posed five pointed questions to Dr. Bawumia, focusing on Ghana’s economic difficulties, including the depreciation of the cedi, the national debt increase, rising inflation, a reported GH¢24 million loan from the Bank of Ghana, and Dr. Bawumia’s shift from economic issues to digitalisation initiatives.

The questions reflect long-standing concerns over Ghana's economic direction, with Mr. Mahama contending that Bawumia has strayed from economic priorities that previously defined his agenda.

Dr. Bawumia has responded the critiques through social media

“I would have thought he would be man enough to face me in a one-on-one debate for the Ghanaian public to assess our respective policies, achievements and visions. He should not hide behind these flimsy questions to avoid a debate. ,” Bawumia posted on X and Facebook on Wednesday [Oct 30, 2024]. 

The Vice President’s post goes beyond a response, highlighting an extensive list of over 50 questions he directed at Mahama’s previous tenure, demanding accountability on issues ranging from job creation and social interventions to infrastructure and economic management.

Among the focal points of Bawumia's questions are Mahama’s handling of Ghana’s energy crisis, popularly known as “Dumsor,” his cancellation of teacher and nursing allowances, and what Bawumia describes as a collapse of the banking sector. 

Today, I had the honour and privilege to present my choice of running mate (@MatthewOPrempeh) to the National Council of the @NPP_GH for their consideration in line with NPP constitution.

I thank members of the National Council for their unanimous and emphatic endorsement of… pic.twitter.com/UO9nGcXfzO

— Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (@MBawumia) July 4, 2024

Dr. Bawumia’s response also raised concerns over Mahama’s record on education, questioning why his administration ran advertisements opposing the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, which has since been a flagship initiative under the NPP government. 

The Vice President further criticized Mahama’s economic legacy, alleging that Mahama’s policies were unable to create a fraction of the jobs or economic growth achieved under the NPP’s tenure.

“Why was your government unable to create even a quarter of the jobs that our government has created?” Dr. Bawumia asked, alongside questions on healthcare, infrastructure, and technological advancements that have become central to the NPP’s current agenda.

The exchange marks a continuation of longstanding rivalries between the two candidates. 

In 2016, Bawumia posed 170 questions to then-Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, which went unanswered by the Mahama administration. In his recent comments, Mahama referenced this historical exchange, suggesting that Dr. Bawumia should now answer his own queries on Ghana’s economic trajectory.

Both candidates have increasingly resorted to public platforms and rallies to question the other's track record and assert their leadership visions. As Ghanaians prepare to head to the polls, these debates over economic policy, infrastructure, and public welfare highlight the contrasts in the approaches and priorities of Ghana’s leading political parties.

See Bawumia's 50 questions below;

QUESTIONS FOR JOHN MAHAMA

I have just read questions posed to me by former President Mahama. I would have thought he would be man enough to face me in a one-on-one debate for the Ghanaian public to assess our respective policies, achievements and visions. He should not hide behind these flimsy questions to avoid a debate. Come for a debate and I can ask the moderators to ask me these five flimsy questions. But I have many more substantive 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 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, Ghanacard, 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?