Blame Ofori-Atta for Ghana’s Economic Crisis, Not Bawumia — Adwoa Safo Tells NPP Delegates

Former Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has called on delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to reject claims that former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was responsible for Ghana’s economic difficulties under the party’s administration.

Speaking to party delegates, Adwoa Safo insisted that Dr. Bawumia should not be made the scapegoat for the government’s economic challenges, arguing that his influence over economic decision-making was limited. She maintained that the former Vice President remains the strongest candidate to lead the NPP into the next general elections.

According to her, the former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, played a far more decisive role in shaping economic policy and should bear greater responsibility for the mismanagement that contributed to the country’s economic downturn.

“Was Dr. Bawumia the finance minister? Were we not in government when some MPs called for a change of the finance minister because of how the economy was being mismanaged?” she questioned.
“Didn’t he damage everything before he was changed? So how can we blame this on Bawumia?”

Adwoa Safo further emphasized that Dr. Bawumia lacked the authority to overrule key decisions taken at the highest levels of government.

“He was only the driver’s mate and could not overrule the driver, even if the driver was not performing well,” she remarked.

Her comments come amid growing debate within the NPP, as some presidential flagbearer aspirants have openly criticized Dr. Bawumia’s economic record during the party’s time in government.

The NPP is scheduled to elect its presidential candidate on January 31, 2026, ahead of the next general elections. Dr. Bawumia is one of five aspirants vying for the flagbearer position, alongside Kennedy Agyapong, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and Kwabena Agyapong.