Bawumia responds to Mahama - Challenges him to a debate

The Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has challenged former President John Mahama to face him in a debate.

That, he said, was the only way the electorate could access their respective policies, achievements and vision.

In a Facebook post yesterday, in response to some questions posed by the former President, Dr Bawumia said “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," he said.

The NPP flag bearer in his "Questions for Mahama" post, also requested the former President to name any broad-based social intervention policy that he implemented in the country during his presidency.

“Why did you run advertisements against free SHS? If you think your economic management was so good how come we experienced more than four years of “Dumsor” under your government?,” he asked.

The NPP flag bearer in his post, also wants Mr Mahama to speak to why the banking system almost collapsed under his watch.

"Why did you cancel teacher training allowances, why did you cancel nursing training allowances and  why did the  National Ambulance Service virtually collapsed under your government?," Dr Bawumia further demanded from Mr Mahama.

The 50 questions posed by Dr Bawumia also asked why the government of John Mahama was unable to create even a quarter of jobs that the NPP government has created?

“How many nurses, teachers, police officers, immigration officers and service personnel did he recruit as President. And why did he implement a three-month pay policy for teachers?,” he queried.

Dr Bawumia further demanded to know why the former President cancelled the car import duty waiver for teachers and nurses, as well as why the average agricultural growth under his government was 2.9 per cent, less than half of what it is under the government of the NPP.

He also said that industry growth under the government of the former President  was lower than what pertained under the NPP government.

On Gross Domestic Programme (GDP), the Vice-President asked why the overall GDP growth under the former President was lower than that of the current government.

Some of the questions also bordered on the construction of more fish landing sites, courts, public libraries, sports facilities, airports, TVET institutions, roads, interchanges, hospitals and schools, areas he said the NPP government had out-performed Mr Mahama during his tenure.

Zango devt

Dr Bawumia further mentioned developments in Zangos, provision of vehicles and equipment to security services, issuance of national ID cards, removal of ghost workers on government payroll, property address system and access to financial inclusion as other sectors the government had done better than the previous NDC government.

He also asked the former President why he was able to fulfil only 28 per cent of promises in his 2012 manifesto, and what specific measures he implemented to combat corruption during his tenure.