NPP Must Watch Out for Bawumia’s Blame-Shifting Politics – Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah

Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah has criticized Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s recent remarks during his “Thank You Tour,” describing them as a worrying display of inconsistency and disloyalty to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and President Nana Akufo-Addo. According to him, Bawumia’s attempts to distance himself from the government’s unpopular policies reveal a troubling pattern that undermines both the unity and integrity of the administration he once served as Vice President.

Dr. Boakye-Danquah pointed out that Bawumia’s claim of opposing the controversial E-levy tax contradicts his earlier silence during its introduction and implementation, despite widespread public backlash. As a senior figure on the Economic Management Team, Bawumia had every opportunity to raise concerns but chose not to—only later distancing himself for political convenience.

This behavior, he argues, extends to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), which caused significant financial hardship, particularly for pensioners. Bawumia’s failure to publicly address the DDEP’s fallout, while now suggesting he wasn’t fully responsible, is seen as opportunistic and undermines collective responsibility.

Dr. Boakye-Danquah further criticized Bawumia’s efforts to shift blame for the country’s economic difficulties, including the cost-of-living crisis and steep fuel price hikes just days before the 2024 elections. As a key architect of government policy, Bawumia’s current efforts to depict himself as a mere “driver’s mate” rather than a central decision-maker ring hollow, especially considering his previous boasts about initiatives like NABCO—which eventually collapsed— and his silence on issues like unpaid workers in the School Feeding and Afforestation programs.

He also noted Bawumia’s criticism of the National Cathedral project and the government’s failed fight against illegal mining (galamsey) as further signs of betrayal, pointing out that Bawumia was deeply involved in the administration and cannot credibly disown its failures.

Additionally, Dr. Boakye-Danquah accused Bawumia of undermining the party’s internal processes by rejecting the delegates system that brought him to the flagbearer position, and subtly attacking President Akufo-Addo, who had been his mentor and political sponsor.

Blaming the NPP’s 2024 defeat on internal issues and voter apathy, while ignoring his own role in the party’s decline over his 16 years as its number two, further exposes Bawumia’s attempt to rewrite history, Dr. Boakye-Danquah stated.

In conclusion, he described Bawumia’s “justification tour” as a calculated effort to deflect blame onto President Akufo-Addo and the NPP, despite his deep involvement in the administration’s key decisions. According to Dr. Boakye-Danquah, Ghanaians deserve a leader who accepts responsibility, not one who rewrites narratives to suit personal ambitions.