Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a former government spokesperson, has launched a scathing critique against Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, accusing him of disloyalty and attempting to deflect blame for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) electoral defeat.
In a statement, Dr. Boakye-Danquah alleges that Dr. Bawumia’s “justification tour” reveals a pattern of distancing himself from key government policies and failures.
According to Dr. Boakye-Danquah, Dr. Bawumia’s claim of opposing the controversial E-levy is inconsistent with his silence during its implementation.
He further criticized Dr. Bawumia’s handling of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) and his attempt to attribute economic hardships, including rising petrol prices, to President Akufo-Addo’s leadership.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah stated, “Bawumia was not a bystander but a key architect of the government’s economic policies, yet he now portrays himself as a mere ‘driver’s mate’ to evade responsibility.”
He also pointed to Dr. Bawumia’s criticism of the National Cathedral project and his stance on illegal mining as evidence of disloyalty.
The former spokesperson concluded that Dr. Bawumia’s actions are a “calculated attempt to rewrite his legacy by scapegoating President Akufo-Addo and the NPP for failures he actively contributed to.”
Read Dr. Boakye-Danquah’s full statement below:
RELEASE – BLAME PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s recent statements and actions during his “justification tour” – Thank you Tour reveal a troubling pattern of disloyalty and inconsistency toward the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and President Nana Akufo-Addo, undermining the unity and credibility of the administration he served as Vice President. By attempting to distance himself from key government policies and failures, Bawumia betrays the collective responsibility he held as a senior member of the Economic Management Team and a close ally of the President.
Bawumia’s claim that he opposed the E-levy, a highly controversial tax policy, is inconsistent with his silence during its introduction and passage, despite public outcry and its significant impact on Ghanaians.
As Vice President, he had a platform to voice dissent or influence policy but chose not to, only to later claim opposition when it suited his political ambitions.
This selective distancing extends to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), which caused widespread financial distress, including protests by pensioners.
Bawumia’s failure to publicly address or mitigate the DDEP’s impact, while now implying he was not fully responsible, reeks of opportunism and undermines the administration’s collective accountability.
His attempt to shift blame for economic hardships, such as the crippling cost-of-living crisis and soaring petrol prices—reportedly increased just three days before the 2024 elections—onto Akufo-Addo’s leadership is particularly disloyal.
Bawumia was not a bystander but a key architect of the government’s economic policies, yet he now portrays himself as a mere “driver’s mate” to evade responsibility. This narrative contradicts his earlier boasts of the NPP’s achievements, such as the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), which he championed but later collapsed due to non-payment of stipends, leaving thousands of youth stranded. Similarly, his silence on the non-payment of caterers under the School Feeding Programme and workers in the afforestation program further exposes his inconsistency in addressing government failures he was complicit in.
Bawumia’s criticism of the National Cathedral project, a flagship initiative of Akufo-Addo’s administration, and the government’s handling of galamsey (illegal mining) further illustrates his disloyalty. These issues, mired in controversy and public discontent, were part of the administration’s agenda, yet Bawumia now seeks to absolve himself of responsibility, despite his prominent role in the government. His claim of being unaware of the petrol price hike before the election is implausible for a Vice President deeply embedded in the administration, suggesting either gross negligence or a deliberate attempt to feign detachment.
Moreover, Bawumia’s rejection of the delegates system that propelled him to the NPP flagbearer position reveals his willingness to undermine the party’s internal processes when it serves his narrative. His accusations of “arrogance of power” within the government implicitly target Akufo-Addo, a mentor who endorsed and elevated him, further highlighting his disloyalty.
By framing the NPP’s 2024 election loss as a result of internal failures and low voter turnout, while dismissing religious or tribal factors, Bawumia conveniently sidesteps his own role in the party’s unpopularity, including his inability to inspire confidence amid economic mismanagement. A party he has been number 2 for 16years.
In conclusion, Dr. Bawumia’s “justification tour” / thank you tour is a calculated attempt to rewrite his legacy by scapegoating President Akufo-Addo and the NPP for failures he actively contributed to.
His inconsistencies—championing policies in power but disowning them in defeat—and his disloyalty to the President and party that elevated him discredit his credibility as a leader. Ghanaians deserve a leader who takes responsibility, not one who shifts blame to salvage personal ambition.
Written by:
Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah
Former Government Spokesperson on Governance and Security, NPP (President Akufo-Addo Government)
