MAHAMA HAS NO SINGLE TRANSFORMATIONAL POLICY AFTER 30 YEARS IN POLITICS: BAWUMIA JABS MAHAMA
Story by: Samuel K. Owusu
The political discourse in Ghana has been heating up as the 2024 general elections draw closer. The Vice President of Ghana, Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, has taken a swipe at former President John Mahama, accusing him of not having a single transformational policy in his 30 years of a political career
"Do you know that John Mahama has been in politics his entire adult life? Over 30 years, he has been an assemblyman, Deputy Minister to Minister, Vice President and then President. But can you mention a single transformational policy that he has implemented? I do not want two, I want only one transformational policy?. Just mention one but there is none, only Dumsor and guinea fowls". Bawumia has said.
In Ghana, Dumsor (Akan pronunciation: [dum sÉ”] ‘off and on’) is a persistent, irregular, and unpredictable electric power outage. The frequent Ghanaian blackouts are caused by a power supply shortage. The chronic power outages experienced in Ghana. These outages are characterized by irregularity and unpredictability, causing a significant disruption to the lives and livelihoods of Ghanaians. The underlying cause of the persistent blackouts is a shortfall in Ghana's power supply, which falls short of the country's needs by an estimated 400-600 megawatts.
CONSEQUENCES OF DUMSOR
The negative consequences of Dumsor on Ghanaians during Mahama's administration were far-reaching. The rolling blackouts led to a significant decline in industrial productivity and economic growth, as many businesses and industries were forced to either shut down or scale back operations. The energy-intensive mining sector, which is a critical contributor to the country's economy, was severely impacted, leading to job losses and reduced revenue for the government.
Moreover, the power outages had a severe impact on the daily lives of Ghanaians, with many households left without access to electricity for extended periods. This not only affected the quality of life but also had serious health implications, as hospitals and healthcare facilities struggled to provide essential services without access to power.
Additionally, the power outages also resulted in increased household expenditure, as many households had to resort to expensive alternatives such as generators and fuel to meet their energy needs. The high cost of these alternatives further strained the already limited financial resources of many Ghanaians, especially those living in poverty.
The Dumsor crisis during Mahama's administration had significant negative consequences on the economic and social well-being of Ghanaians. The situation highlighted the need for a long-term sustainable solution to Ghana's power supply deficit to ensure the country's growth and development
TRANSFORMATIONAL POLICIES
What Bawumia classifies as the transformational policies implemented by the NPP government, include Digital Cards, Mobile Money Interoperability, Digital Address, Free SHS, Free TVET, One Constituency One Ambulance, One District One Factory, Free Maternal Care, a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Zongo Development Fund, among others, to demonstrate the party's record of transformational policies.
Dr Bawumia said this in Abetifi in the Eastern Region when touting the credentials of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and giving party faithful hopes that it is possible #ItIsPossibble to break the eight #BreakThe8. The only thing Bawumia could attribute to John Mahama and the NDC is Dumsor.
Transformational policies are those that have a significant and lasting impact on the lives of citizens and contribute to the development of the country. It is, therefore, crucial for politicians to be innovative and forward-thinking in their policies and programs
The jab thrown by Dr Bawumia at former President Mahama is not just political rhetoric but a call to action for Ghanaians to assess the performance of their leaders over the years. The question is, after being in politics for over 30 good years, what has John Mahama done that can be described as transformational? The answer seems to be none according to Dr Bawumia
In conclusion, it is clear that Bawumia and the NPP have implemented several transformational policies. While Bawumia's comments may be seen as a political jab, it is important to acknowledge the achievements of the NPP in the country's development.
As we approach the 2024 general elections, it is essential for politicians to focus on presenting their policies and plans for the country's development. As Vice President Bawumia rightly stated, "It is possible" #ItIsPossibble to break the eight #BreakThe8 and build a prosperous future for Ghana, but this can only be achieved through constructive political engagements and the implementation of transformational policies that improve the lives of Ghanaians.
Political legacies and transformational policies are important for national development, it is also important to evaluate these policies based on their impact, sustainability, and relevance to the values and aspirations of the people. It is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to work towards building a sustainable and transformative future for Ghana.
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