Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP), faced tough questions from concerned Ghanaians during his first nationwide campaign tour. In an engagement with faith-based leaders in Tamale, Northern Region, Pastor Ramatu Abdullahi Helina of the Assemblies of God Church challenged the vice president’s claim that the government has created 2.1 million jobs since taking office in 2017.
Dr. Bawumia had touted this figure as the highest number of jobs created by any government in the 4th Republic. However, Pastor Helina questioned the authenticity of these jobs, particularly in light of the many Ghanaians who lost their livelihoods during the banking sector clean-up in 2019. She asked whether those affected by the bank closures and NGO shutdowns had benefited from the newly created jobs.
Furthermore, Pastor Helina raised concerns about the locked-up funds in Gold Coast Security, where many pastors keep their provident funds for retirement. She sought clarity on how the government plans to assist those affected by this issue.
In response, Dr. Bawumia asserted that the jobs created are real and supported by data from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). He provided a breakdown, stating that over 1.2 million jobs were created in the public sector and about 975,000 in the private sector. Regarding the banking sector clean-up, the vice president maintained that the closure of the affected banks was necessary to prevent the collapse of the country’s financial system.
This is not the first time the NPP flagbearer has faced tough questions during his campaign. In the Bono Region, a female final-year nursing student confronted Dr. Bawumia about the non-payment of the government allowance meant for students. The vice president promised to address the issue with the Ministry of Finance and ensure the payment of the allowance.
As the campaign progresses, Ghanaians are closely scrutinizing the promises and claims made by political leaders. The confrontations faced by Dr. Bawumia highlight the need for transparency, accountability, and tangible solutions to the challenges faced by the citizens. The upcoming elections will serve as a litmus test for the government’s performance and its ability to deliver on its promises to the people of Ghana.
