Former Member of Parliament for Buem Constituency under the National Democratic Congress (NDC),Daniel Kwesi Ashaimah has issued a challenge to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
He proposed a debate involving himself and Honourable Isaac Adongo, MP for Bolgatanga Constituency, alongside the Vice President.
Ashaimah questioned the Vice President’s call for a debate with former President John Dramani Mahama, suggesting it lacked credibility. He recalled a past incident where Dr. Bawumia had dismissed Mahama’s debate request in 2016, telling him to engage farmers in his hometown instead.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, also the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has accused former President John Mahama of avoiding a live debate, insinuating that Mahama is unable to adequately explain his policies.
Addressing thousands of his supporters yesterday (July 10, 2024) in Bunkpurugu, North East Region, Dr. Bawumia said, “I am looking forward to a debate with John Mahama on the economy, on the country, on governance.” “But I am afraid that he is running away from a debate. His people say he doesn’t want to debate. I have never heard of an opposition leader who doesn’t want to debate. But he knows I will expose the emptiness of his policies.”
Mr. Ashaimah, however, lambasted Dr. Bawumia, painting him as lacking integrity and moral strength to initiate a debate.
He argued that a leader who has not clarified why Ghana’s economy is struggling, nor demonstrated his ability to fulfill promises made to his constituents, is not worthy of a debate.
According to Ashaimah, Mahama, as a candidate, has the prerogative to accept or reject a debate with someone he views as dishonest. Ultimately, he asserted that Dr. Bawumia lacks the former president’s sophistication.
Appearing on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the former lawmaker said, “In 2016, Mahama called for a debate, and Bawumia told him to go to his hometown and debate with businessmen and tell them why businesses were collapsing. He also went on to tell him to debate farmers about why fertilisers were being sold to them when, in actuality, they were never sold. That was what he told Mahama. Mahama is our flag bearer, and the decision to debate or not debate lies with him.
Bawumia should also travel to Walewale and explain why the promise to build a watermelon factory has not materialised. Mahama requested a debate in 2016, but your government refused to engage in one. You also wrote 177 questions to the late Amissah Arthur, which you have yet to answer. He should travel to Pawlugu and explain to his people why they spent our resources while there is no dam there. He should also explain to Ghanaians why the Bank of Ghana incurred losses of GH₵60.8 billion in two years.
He should also explain why they stole $50 million to dig the world’s most expensive hole. After that, he should return to debate with me (Ashaimah) and Isaac Adongo, so I will show him the Bank of Ghana Hospital, Ridge Hospital, Afari Hospital, Mampong, and Konongo Water projects, and they will show us theirs.
Take a look at the people that are talking and appealing for a debate. We will use the same fundamentals to evaluate you, such as inflation, the exchange rate, cedi depreciation, and debt-to-GDP growth. He should quit joking. Myself and Adongo are ready to debate him any time, any day.”
