Bawumia Finds ‘Breaking The 8’ Increasingly Challenging – Prof Agyeman-Duah

Governance expert and former United Nations Advisor on Governance, Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah, has disclosed that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the presumed NPP 2024 presidential candidate, faces a challenging task of overcoming the eight-year legacy set by President Akufo-Addo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2024.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah argued that Dr. Bawumia would find it arduous to distance himself from the existing economic conditions in the country. This observation emerged following President Akufo-Addo’s recent SONA, where he asserted that all government appointees and officials merely provide advice, reinforcing Dr. Bawumia’s earlier statement during a February lecture at UPSA, emphasizing the advisory role of the Economic Management Team.

Contrary to this perspective, Prof. Agyeman-Duah expressed a dissenting view on TV3’s Ghana Tonight, emphasizing the considerable challenge Vice President Bawumia faces in breaking the eight-year cycle. He noted the intricate situation where the incumbent president and his vice president, who have jointly governed for eight years, are now navigating political aspirations. According to him, there is a need for Vice President Bawumia to strategically distance himself from certain unsuccessful policies while seeking the presidency.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah highlighted the complexity of Dr. Bawumia’s position, stating that he cannot publicly disavow the policies he was part of while being aware of their public dissatisfaction. The expert suggested that Dr. Bawumia must devise innovative strategies to address this dilemma, acknowledging the intricate puzzle both the president and the vice president find themselves entangled in as they navigate the political landscape.