In a recent Facebook post, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the former Minister of Communications and the current Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), criticized Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s stance on previous presidential debates towards General Elections.
Accentuating the repugnancy in Dr. Bawumia’s views over the years, Dr. Boamah used a Hausa proverb, “Mara gaskiya ko cikin ruwa sai ya yi gumi,” meaning “a dishonest man will sweat even when placed under water,” to underscore his point.
The former Minister for Communications under the John Dramani Mahama-led administration meticulously detailed Dr. Bawumia’s evolving positions on the necessity of presidential debates.
In 2024, Dr. Bawumia has been vocal about challenging former President John Mahama to a debate, emphasizing his eagerness to discuss the economy and governance.
Quotes from Dr. Bawumia this year include statements such as, “I am looking forward to a debate with John Mahama on the economy, on the country and Gov but I am afraid he is running away from a debate,” and “I challenge John Mahama to a live debate on the economy.”
Contrastingly, in the 2020 elections, Dr. Bawumia dismissed the need for a debate between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President Mahama, claiming that the track records of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the NDC were clear for voters to see.
His 2020 statements suggested that debates were unnecessary, with remarks like, “It is not necessary for Prez Nana Addo to debate Ex Prez Mahama. The track record of the NPP & NDC are clear. Voters will determine who did better.”
Looking further back to 2016, Dr. Bawumia’s rhetoric was even more dismissive, directing Mahama to debate with various sectors affected by his governance rather than engaging in a direct debate.
Dr. Bawumia’s 2016 statements included, “He (Mahama) should go and debate with businesses that have collapsed because of dumsor,” and “He (Mahama) should go and debate with contractors who are not paid because his Gov is not paying.”
Dr. Boamah concluded by underscoring similar sentiments expressed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lead member Kennedy Agyapong, further questioning the consistency of the NPP’s stance on debates.
