Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Mr Isaac Adongo, has belittled the economic prowess of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, describing them as inferior to that of former President John Mahama, who does not hold a PhD in Economics.
Mr Adongo said although former President Mahama does not have a book certificate in economics, where Dr Bawumia prides himself in as having a PhD, he was able to grow the economy above eight percent as Vice President and Head of the Economic Management Team (EMT) between 2009 and 2012.
Setting the stage for his address on the economy to sympathizers of the opposition NDC in Accra, the Bolga Central MP said he had compiled data specifically to show that President Mahama’s achievements with the economy surpassed those of Dr Bawumia’s. The idea was “to close the conversation about Dr Bawumia and President Mahama” by comparing their economic achievements as vice presidents and head of the EMTs, he said at a forum organised by pro-NDC group, Coalition for Restoration (CFR).
It was under the theme: ‘The true state of the nation.’
He said although President Nana Akufo-Addo praised Dr Bawumia for helping grow the economy from an alarming 3.6 percent in 2016 to 7.9 percent in 2017, majority of that growth was oil-driven.
For the country to see the real picture in the growth, he said it is instructive that “we isolate the oil sector and look at the economy minus oil; the one that you and I generate in the market, drinking bars and Abossey Okai.
“And when you look there in 2010, President Mahama as the head of the EMT delivered a gross domestic product (GDP) of 7.6 percent without oil and he does not have a PhD. In fact, he delivered single-digit inflation in 2010.
In 2011, President Mahama delivered 8.6 percent growth without oil. With oil, he delivered 14 percent. I am sure we need a double professor in Bawumia to achieve this.
“In 2012, he again delivered 8.6 without oil and single digit inflation but in 2017 under the brilliant and competent economist with a PhD and former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, we delivered 4.8 percent,” he said, adding that even a class one pupil will be able to know that Dr Bawumia’s achievements are below those of President Mahama.
“But what is worse is that this man is projecting based on his competence and he is saying that even though he did 4.8 percent last year, 2018 his best will be 5.4 percent. In 2019, he is still projecting that he will do 5.9 percent and by 2020, when they will be exiting, his best will be six percent.
“Meanwhile, the worst of President Mahama was 7.6 percent. Therefore, the best of Dr Bawumia is nowhere near the worst of President Mahama yet we are comparing Mahama the president to Dr Bawumia the Vice President.
“Let us close it at the vice president level because he (Dr Bawumia) cannot move beyond John Mahama the vice president let alone get to John Mahama the president,” he said to thunderous applause.
Source: Enock Adombire