A Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo says the ‘Bold Solutions’ address by the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is promising but will have a hectic task selling it to the electorates.
He said in a post on social media that Ghanaians are fed up with political promises rather they will vote based on achievements.
“But it appears great plans wouldn’t matter. Available empirical survey reports show that many Ghanaians now, do not believe in political promises, as many of them are merely vote garnering gimmicks. What would therefore be the decider in the 2024 elections, would be a side-by-side comparison of the trustworthiness, credibility and achievements of the various contenders.” Gyampo said.
Analysing Dr Bawumia's address, Gyampo said parts of his promises have vindicated critics of the Nana Addo-led government
“Parts of the presentation were an indictment on the government of which he is part, in a manner that raises serious questions and vindicates those of us who have been critics of the government."
He highlighted the abolishment of certain taxes, including the Emissions tax, Gaming Tax, E-Levy, and VAT on electricity consumption as issues critics have urged the Nana Addo-led government to abolish.
Below is Professor Gyampo’s full speech
Bawumia’s Address – A Preliminary Analysis
1. This essentially was an articulation of achievements and vision, fundamentally in the broader area of Digitization and honestly, the various manifestations of this overarching policy, and what it can do to promote development, is indubitable and enormous. No doubt it formed the interwoven central theme of the presentation.
2. Unfortunately, Ghanaians had to wait to be told more about what digitization has done for them by the man himself, in a manner that makes many of the achievements which should have been long known, sound new. Consequently, there may be the need to fact-check many of the claims in order to be sure.
3. It appears DMB is the only one who has a firm grasp over the policy, as the party itself has either been ignorant about the claims about Digitization or has been incompetent in communicating its achievements to fester in the psyche of Ghanaians. Unless the party begins to undertake remedial tutorials about Digitization and its achievements for the purposes of political communication, the work will be difficult for DMB.
4. Despite what it can do, Digitization is not the sine qua non to development. Other key interventions such as good governance and deliberate efforts to seal the leakages and slippages, fight corruption, exemplary leadership that first tightens its belt, rather than living bourgeoisie, etc should have been emphasized more than being treated nearly as appendages.
5. Parts of the presentation was an indictment on the government of which he is part, in a manner that raises serious questions and vindicates those of us who have been critics of the government. Promising to have not more than 50 Ministers when you are part of a government of over 100 Ministers; and promising to abolish some taxes like the Emissions tax, Gaming Tax, E-Levy, VAT on electricity consumption etc makes some of us feel vindicated for criticizing and calling for downsizing of government and the abolition of such nuisance taxes. DMB’s supporters came after us for such criticisms and I am wondering whether they will go after him, now that he’s taken a position that responds favorably to our criticisms on the size of government and nuisance taxes.
6. But the more important question is, why do these great interventions tomorrow, instead of today that they are greatly needed? Does the answer still lie in the claim that he’s not the one in charge? Well, in that case, then karma is not good at all. There was then absolutely no basis for the 170 questions posed to Veep Amissah-Arthur because, he was also a mate and wasn’t in charge.
7. DMB still blames our challenges on COVID and Russian-Ukraine war and there is no doubt at all that these have had negative effects on many countries including Ghana. But a more convincing explanation could have also focused on an admission of what was done wrong domestically, and a promise to refrain from our own contributions to the challenges. It cannot be entirely accurate for us to blame all other than ourselves for our challenges.
8. Finally, there were great ideas that were espoused including the need for a national development plan, a move that was initiated by the predecessor government but was jettisoned. All the other contenders in the 2024 elections also have great plans. But it appears great plans wouldn’t really matter. Available empirical survey reports show that many Ghanaians now, do not believe in political promises, as many of them are merely vote garnering gimmicks. What would therefore be the decider in the 2024 elections, would be a side by side comparison of the trustworthiness, credibility and achievements of the various contenders.
In my next post, I will now offer a sharper focus and properly interrogate some of the policy vision outlined. Where they deserve commendations, we would commend and where they must be fact-checked and critiqued, we will do so.
Yaw Gyampo
A31, Prabiw
PAV Ansah Street
Saltpond
&
Suro Nipa House
Behind Old Post Office
Larteh-Akuapim
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana
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Gyampo is trying so hard to be visible and relevant in our society but it proves futile, he is nobody...in fact, he's fame is exchanging grade for grade, shame!
so so propaganda. We have heard promises galore that never panned out, so how can we trust the NPP this time. Remember we vote for the Party and not just a person, otherwise if party is immuned from lack of performance, then we should only vote for individuals and not parties. For that matter we should vote for Alan, Mahama, Bawumia and disband the parties. None of them have serious solution for existential threat to Ghana - the polluted water (caused by illegal mining - Galamsey) 2nd - lack of ethics in our society and how to address it It is not the youth alone, they have not been thought Ethics by their elders since their infancy, so what do you expect. Imagine a child sitting in his dad's car and hearing his dad lie over the phone by saying, "oh I'm right by your office, just in traffic". When the truth is, he is just leaving the house, now if the father is successful, the child will take a cue that to be successful, you need to know how to lie and cheat the system. So it starts with teaching Ethics as a mandatory course
Is Prof Gyampo a political science lecturer? Since no one or government is perfect it is important to reflect and re-assess all the time. It is part of good leadership and that is what we need in Ghana and not arrogant branch of leaders who accept no fault. That really makes Dr Bawumia stands out among those contesting for president in 3024.
Irelivant guy. s e x for grades prof. It is shameful. He thinks he has all the knowledge, you no sabi foko.