Mahama Fires Back At Veep: Conduct Your Office With "Decency And Maturity, Not Reckless Talk”

Former President John Dramani Mahama has fired back at Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for tagging him (Mahama) as “incompetent” in a viral video.

Mr Mahama accuses the Vice-President of "majoring in minors and taking to cheap and unsophisticated politics" and lacking the presence of mind to appreciate the distinction between his role as Vice President and that of his propagandist running mate days on campaign platforms

"....we wish to remind him that the Office of the Vice President is conducted with grace, decency and maturity, not reckless and unrestrained talk,” portions of the statement signed by James Agyenim Boateng, Spokesperson for JM2020 read.

Dr Bawumia in a recent viral video is heard saying it will be suicidal for Ghanaians to hand over the administration of the country back to the former President.

According to him, the living conditions of Ghanaians will be worse off if John Mahama and the NDC return to office.

Former President John Dramani Mahama, who is on a campaign tour across the country to reclaim the NDC ticket for the 2020 election, earlier accused government of poor economic management.

He specifically took a swipe at Dr. Bawumia, saying he was only good at giving lectures on the economy whiles they were in opposition, but he’s struggling to manage same now that they are in power.

But speaking at a meeting with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Accra, Dr. Bawumia said "I hear the incompetent one says he wants to come back. He wants to come and do more damage. As if he didn’t do enough damage? Well, we are waiting for him. You have to remember what happened when we came to office. After many years of incompetent economic management, you cannot describe it any other than incompetent economic management.”

“After many years of such economic management, the people of Ghana gave us the privilege to change course, but after just 20 months in office, the difference is clear. There is a big difference, if you look at the macroeconomic indicators, and they don’t like looking at it because it makes them look bad. It exposes their incompetence,” Dr. Bawumia added.

But in a sharp riposte, the ex-President questioned the "temerity" of Dr Bawumia to call the former names when he (Bawumia) has become the "butt of all jokes in the country for his inability to match his performance on the job and the management of the economy with his numerous propagandist lectures in opposition."

He also vowed that his team will respond in "equal measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over", any attempt by the Vice-President to play dirty.

"The One District, One Factory is in limbo; there is no sign of One Village, One Dam; the One District, One warehouse promise has proven to be a sham; the one million dollars per constituency per year promise is in two years arrears for all 275 constituencies.

"The promise to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa has produced the most embarrassing spectacle of filth under Bawumia’s watch; the dollar and petroleum prices have spiraled out of control; teacher trainee allowances have not been paid.

"Allowances for student nurses are in arrears; one hot meal, free egg and a bar of chocolate a day for public primary school pupils have turned out to be a hoax; and the NPP government remains clueless about how to fulfill many other promises that it made," Mr Mahama said.


Read below a copy of the statement from the John Mahama 2020 Campaign Office.

Bawumia Has Brought The Office Of The Vice President Into Disrepute 

The Office of the Vice President was brought into disrepute in a viral video in which Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, whilst pretending to perform official duties, descended to his lowest to call former President John Dramani Mahama names.

It is sad to note that after nearly halfway through the four-year term of the government of which Dr. Bawumia is the Vice President, he still lacks the presence of mind to appreciate the distinction between his role as Vice President and that of his propagandist running mate days on campaign platforms.

Whilst reminding Dr. Bawumia that any needless and unprovoked attack on former President Mahama on any day will not go unanswered, we wish to remind him that the Office of the Vice President is conducted with grace, decency and maturity, not reckless and unrestrained talk.

Let him also be reminded that respect for political office holders is earned and that if he chooses to play it dirty, he will get it back in equal measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over.

We wish to draw Dr. Bawumia’s attention to the fact that whilst he is busily majoring in minors and taking to cheap and unsophisticated politics, the manifesto promises of the New Patriotic Party for which Ghanaians voted for them have yet to be fulfilled.

The One District, One Factory is in limbo; there is no sign of One Village, One Dam; the One District, One warehouse promise has proven to be a sham; the one million dollars per constituency per year promise is in two years arrears for all 275 constituencies.

The promise to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa has produced the most embarrassing spectacle of filth under Bawumia’s watch; the dollar and petroleum prices have spiraled out of control; teacher trainee allowances have not been paid.

Allowances for student nurses are in arrears; one hot meal, free egg and a bar of chocolate a day for public primary school pupils have turned out to be a hoax; and the NPP government remains clueless about how to fulfill many other promises that it made.

It is shocking that Vice President Bawumia who has become the butt of all jokes in the country for his inability to match his performance on the job and the management of the economy with his numerous propagandist lectures in opposition, has the temerity to call former President John Dramani Mahama names.

Mr. Mahama and his government have a solid record of investment in education, energy, roads, healthcare and aviation infrastructure, among others and we can understand both the frustration and desperation of Dr. Bawumia and his NPP following the rousing reception which has greeted Mr. Mahama’s campaign tours in the regions.

We also wish to assure the public that nothing from Mr. Mahama’s political opponents will stop him from taking the NDC to victory in the 2020 elections so that Ghanaians can be saved from the high cost of living, job losses and general economic hardship under the NPP administration.

Finally, we wish to point out that Dr. Bawumia’s continuous silence on the suspension of the headmaster of Tempane Senior High School for allegedly allowing an NDC National Organizer hopeful to interact with students exposes the Vice President not only to ridicule but also solidifies his unenviable record as an unprincipled politician.

This is because no one has visited senior high schools to dabble in partisan politics more than Dr. Bawumia.