No substance in Bawumia’s messages — Mawutor Agbavitor

The Volta Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mawutor Agbavitor, has stated that the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, offered only empty promises to the people during his just-ended campaign tour of the Volta Region. 

“He made a vague pledge to construct a sea defence wall in Ketu South, yet this critical project is notably absent from his party's manifesto,” said Mr Agbavitor.

Press conference

Mr Agbavitor said at a press conference in Ho that the sea defence project was initiated under former President John Mahama’s administration but was abandoned by the NPP government shortly after they took office.

“Dr Bawumia’s indifference to the plight of tidal wave victims is evident; he has never turned up to offer comfort to those affected and that clearly testified lack of empathy for the people of Volta Region,” Mr Agbavitor added.

He said what was even more appalling was the recent threat by Dr Bawumia’s running mate, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, to lead a protest in Kumasi if funds were allocated to support tidal waves victims.

NDC plans

Mr Agbavitor said the Dr Bawumia’s messages were in sharp contrast to those of the NDC presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, who has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the people of the region with his comprehensive plans.

Those plans, he said, included the revitalisation of the Juapong Textiles Factory, the establishment of satellite UHAS campuses in Keta and Battor, the development of the Keta-Denu-Ho and Eastern Corridor roads as well as the provision of essential infrastructure such as water supply, a military hospital, a quaternary hospital and a modern market at Aflao.

“These certainly are not empty promises but practical projects specifically aimed at improving the lives of the people in the Volta Region,” he added.

Mr Agbavitor sought to know how Dr Bawumia could claim to have the people at heart while hundreds of people in the Tongu enclave who were displaced and rendered homeless as result of the reckless Akosombo Dam spillage last year, did not capture the attention of Bawumia during his tour of the region.

“The Chairman of the Economic Management Team and his government is yet to resettle a single individual victim of the floods after thirteen months,” he told the conference.

Hope

Mr Agbavitor maintained that John Dramani Mahama remained the only hope for the Volta Region with his clear dedication to transforming the area.

He said it was mindboggling how Dr Bawumia promised the Ho-Denu road when given the nod, during his tour of the region, after the NPP made a similar promise in 2019.

Mr Agbavitor urged supporters of the NDC to maintain a united front always, even in face of provocation by their political opponents, and return the country onto the path of progress by voting for John Dramani Mahama in the forthcoming presidential election.