Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of failing to fulfil key campaign promises, arguing that the internet has made it easier for Ghanaians to hold politicians accountable for their words.
Speaking at the NPP’s National Thanksgiving Service at the Church of Pentecost in Sunyani on Monday, October 19, Dr Bawumia said campaign promises could no longer be easily forgotten because videos, interviews and campaign materials remained accessible online.
“Promises made to win power must be promises we can keep, because time tests every promise. Today we have something we call ‘a few moments later’. Whatever you say, it is saved on the internet, so when you come and you fail to honour what you promised to do, your own words will be played back to you,” he said.
He cited several campaign pledges he said the NDC government had failed to deliver, including a GH¢6,000 price per bag of cocoa, better prices for cashew farmers, automatic posting of teachers, the cancellation of the double-track system and teacher licensure examinations, and the promise to end illegal mining within one month.
Dr Bawumia also criticised the government over the proposed 24-hour economy initiative and the completion of hospitals under the Agenda 111 project, arguing that Ghanaians were still waiting to see the full implementation of these commitments.
“The NDC said so many things and today, ‘omo akyi gu ho’ they have been exposed,” he said, drawing cheers from the congregation.
He further accused the government of disappointing farmers, teachers, nurses and doctors, claiming that promises made to soybean, rice and maize farmers had not been fulfilled.
On the 24-hour economy policy, Dr Bawumia questioned the government’s progress, saying Ghanaians had waited nearly two years for the initiative to materialise.
“We have been waiting for nearly two years to see it, but it has not happened. They themselves don’t understand it, so how can they explain it to us? It was campaign propaganda to deceive Ghanaians,” he said.
The former Vice President also raised concerns about illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, claiming that the situation had worsened under the current administration. He referred to the expression “1:3:3” to suggest that illegal mining had more than tripled and cited environmentalist Dr Sam Jonah’s description of Ghana’s polluted rivers as resembling “chocolate milk”.
Dr Bawumia also questioned the impact of the country’s reported economic improvements on ordinary households, arguing that official economic indicators did not adequately reflect the financial pressures facing many Ghanaians.
According to him, Ghana has two economies: a “paper economy”, where the government reports improvements in inflation and the exchange rate, and a “pocket economy”, where households continue to struggle with the cost of living.
“You cannot have a stable economy with people suffering. Electricity bills, water bills, petrol and transport fares have all gone up. Traders are complaining because people are not buying their goods,” he said.
Looking ahead to the 2028 general elections, Dr Bawumia said the NPP would focus on presenting what he described as costed, practical and workable policies rather than making promises it could not fulfil.
He also accused the government of restricting freedom of expression, alleging that people who criticised the administration on radio and social media risked arrest.
“When people complain on radio and on the internet, they will come and arrest you. We are in an era of arrests,” he said.
