Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President, stirred controversy with his recent proposition to eliminate certain revenue measures introduced by President Akufo-Addo, a move that has sparked accusations of betrayal.
During a public lecture at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announced plans to do away with the E-levy, bet tax, and emissions tax.
However, this announcement has faced criticism from various political analysts, with Kwame Jantuah, CEO of African Energy Consortium Limited, among the dissenting voices.
During an appearance on Joy Prime’s AM Show, Jantuah, a lawyer, argued that Dr. Bawumia cannot distance himself from President Akufo-Addo’s policy legacies.
According to Mr. Jantuah, the Vice President should have either resigned or clearly expressed his opposition to the implementation of the unpopular revenue measures right from the beginning.
“You tell us you want to scrape E-Levy. Were you not part of the decision-making process? At the time that the E-Levy came up, he should have voiced out to the people of Ghana, ‘I do not agree with this E-Levy’.
“There are many ways of stringing a cat. If you don’t agree to something, you’ve got to find a way to convince your boss.”
The lawyer further emphasized that the NPP flagbearer must take accountability for both his actions and inactions throughout the seven-year tenure of the Akufo-Addo administration.
Additionally, the CEO of African Energy Consortium Limited highlighted that if Dr. Bawumia truly prioritized the country over the NPP, he would vehemently oppose the approval of these measures and be willing to resign if necessary.
“You don’t need to be vice president to become president. If you feel you’re strong in your conviction that you can convince Ghanaians that you can lead this country well, then you can stand on your volition.”
He cited an example from his own family history, mentioning how his father, Franklin Adubobi Jantuah, resigned from former President J.J. Rawlings’ administration as the Minister of Agriculture due to his opposition to certain fiscal policies.
