Ladies and gentlemen of the press and our esteemed guests of the Savannah Region,
I warmly welcome you all to today’s press conference. We appreciate your presence here.
Let me thank you for enduring the excruciating hardship under the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.
Today, we are gathered to address the hollow campaign message delivered by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during his recent visit to the good people of the Savannah Region.
As you are all aware, he recently concluded his campaign tour of the region. However, the hollowness of his messages reveals his unsuitability for the presidency.
As stakeholders in the region’s politics, we are committed to setting the record straight and presenting the facts. The Savannah Region deserves progress, not political deception, rhetoric, and clichés.
Ladies and gentlemen, among the hollow messages of the NPP presidential candidate during his tour of the savannah region are:
1. “Vote for me so that Ghana can have its first Muslim President.”
2. “The NPP has developed the Savannah Region more than any other party.”
3. “John Mahama has 4 years if voted for, and I, Bawumia, have 8 years if voted for.”
4. “I haven’t been president before and should be made President.”
5. “The Daboya bridge will be completed before December polls.”
6. “I will provide smartphones on hire purchase for monthly repayment schedules of between GHC 1 and GHC 2.”
7. “I will build an AstroTurf for the people of Bole.”
Press men present, permit me to respond to these rhetoric, clichés, and uninspiring messages from Bawumia, one by one:
Representation Beyond Religion:
The NDC believes in representation beyond religion. In this regard, we call on all well-meaning Ghanaians to call out Bawumia for his divisive tactics. While diverse representation is important, the 2024 campaign should focus on productive policies and leadership qualities rather than religious identity. John Mahama and the NDC have consistently emphasized unity and inclusivity, ensuring all Ghanaians, regardless of religion, are represented.
Ghanaians will vote for candidates with competence and credibility, irrespective of religious affiliation. What has Bawumia achieved for Muslims and the entire Muslim community under his stewardship as vice president?
The NPP must be reminded that exploiting religion for political gain is a very dangerous path that would lead the country to a devastating armed conflict which must be avoided at all cost and salvage the little social cohesion to safeguard the country. I call on religious leaders to stay off partisan politics, it is for good reasons that the constitution maintains a clear separation between politics and religion.
The vice president Bawumia should live by the tenants of the Islamic religion he so much believes in by reading “Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 42, and Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 119.” These Verses amongst others emphasizes the importance of honesty and truthfulness and the consequences thereof by lying and hawking
Development in the Savannah Region:
It is mindboggling for the vice president to claim that the NPP has done more for the Savannah Region than any other party.
In brief, I would like to list a few of John Mahama’s achievements during his four {4} years in office, compared to Akuffo-Addo/Bawumia’s eight {8} years:
John Mahama gave the people of the Savannah Region three brand-new community day SHS, while the NPP gave us zero.
The 147.5 km stretch of the Sawla-Damongo-Fufulso road was constructed under Mahama, while the NPP struggles to maintain potholes on that same road.
We received two new district hospitals and a polyclinic from Mahama, while the NPP gave us zero.
John Mahama built 94 CHPS compounds across the Savannah Region, with the NPP building zero.
The list is endless. I invite any member of the NPP to debate this topic. The vice president’s claim that the NPP government has done more than any other party should be dismissed.
Governance of Experience and Vision:
The people of the Savannah Region believe in experienced and visionary governance. John Mahama has already proven his capability as a leader, having served as President of Ghana. His experience allows him to address the country’s pressing issues effectively.
In the words of Bawumia himself, “This election is a very important one. My main opponent has been president before, but I haven’t. If he returns, he can only be president for four years, but I can be president for eight. One way or the other, a northerner will be president, but do you want a president for one term or two?”
These comments are laughable and expose Bawumia’s political immaturity and lack of vision. This is why Ghanaians will reject him on December 7th, 2024.
Furthermore, his comments vindicate our belief that Bawumia lacks the capacity to lead this country and demonstrate his lack of understanding of the constitution. Article 66 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana states: “A person elected as President shall, subject to clause (3) of this article, hold office for a term of four years beginning from the date on which he is sworn in as President.”
I ask the driver’s mate, which part of the constitution grants him the eight-year mandate he refers to?
His assertion that he should be made president simply because he hasn’t been one yet speaks volumes about his lack of understanding of the position he’s contesting. It shows he just wants to occupy the presidency to fulfill personal ambitions and further perpetuate the Akufo-Addo family dynasty.
How can we make you president just because you haven’t been one before? Ghanaians and the people of the Savannah Region are no longer willing to entrust their destiny to others’ ambitions.
Daboya Bridge:
The vice president promised that the Daboya Bridge would be completed before the December polls. We have 130 days to the elections, and he promises to complete a standard concrete bridge? Someone should tell Bawumia that’s unrealistic. Even a wooden bridge couldn’t be constructed in 130 days. He must respect our intelligence. We have taken a cue from the Doli Bridge rehabilitation, which is an eyesore and embarrassment.
Smartphones for All:
In Tuna, the vice president promised to allow young men and women to purchase smartphones for GHC 1.00 or GHC 2.00 monthly. While making smartphones available at a minimal cost sounds appealing, practical implementation and sustainability are crucial. Mahama’s approach has strengthened the tech ecosystem in Ghana, ensuring tech initiatives are viable and beneficial to all.
The notion of paying GHC 1.00 monthly for a smartphone is comical. It shows the vice president has lost touch with the people. Young men and women need decent jobs to earn enough to afford smartphones without paying GHC 1.00 monthly for 750 years.
AstroTurf for Bole:
Hon. Abu Jinapor, Bawumia’s lead campaigner, promised to build an AstroTurf for Bole in two weeks. This MP, who has repeatedly lied to Damongo residents, now extends this habit to Bole. The attempt to construct the Astro Turf is only a knee jerk reaction to make the NDC unpopular.
The good news is that H.E. John Dramani Mahama has released funds to construct a befitting AstroTurf for the people of Bole.
We will not allow Abu Jinapor to meddle in Bole politics. Any attempts to use his tainted money to construct an Astro Turf will not be tolerated, we shall resist it.
He had already deceived the Bolewura and the good people of Bole on fixing the Bole-Sawla potholes. He has also conspired with Chinese to take over our mining sites without proper consultation with the youth, people and chiefs of the bole traditional area and now he is back with his emptiness and tainted money to meddle in bole politics?
No, we shall resist it with all our minds.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, esteemed guests all gathered; in conclusion, let me state that the youth of Ghana have had enough of the lies of Dr. Bawumia it is time he is stopped from continuing to disrespect Ghanaians. Ghanaian youth are tired of an unapologetic Zuuku, a pathological liar, and a discredited economist who has failed in all aspects of governance and being drowned by his ineptitude. Enough of the gimmick and comical display on stage.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I state with great optimism that the incoming president of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, will bring relief to our unprecedented suffering by fixing the mess created by the driver’s mate for our economy.
He will roll out a 24-hour economy, creating decent jobs for the unemployed youth.
Asalamualaikum. Thank you all for coming.
