I have read statements attributed to one Dr. Kobby Mensah published on peacefmonline.com titled "Bawumia Has No Foundation In NPP". He made these comments on Paul Adom-Otchere's Good Evening Ghana program and as an academic who prides as a believer in "evidence-led" research, he was expected to show fidelity to facts in his assertions. However, just as the expert in "political marketing" he touts himself to be, he appeared to be a political consultant doing advocacy for persons who see Dr. Bawumia as a threat to their political ambitions. This impression about Dr. Mensah's posture is further reinforced when prior to the 2020 polls he made an uninformed claim that Dr. Bawumia’s assertion on Ghana’s universal QR Code being the first by any African country was false. He was soon to be exposed and educated that it was his assertion which was false and not Dr. Bawumia's evidence based statement.
This rejoinder will look at 3 thematic areas discussed by Dr. Mensah in his interview. It further serves as a firm message to all those who have a sinister agenda to malign, under the cloak of academia, Dr. Bawumia's hard earned reputation that their propaganda will not go unchallenged.
DR. BAWUMIA HAS A SOLID FOUNDATION IN NPP
In response to claims by Dr. Mensah that Dr. Bawumia has not grown into the "party stalwart” that could keep taps on party agitation and ensure coherence, I say that if there is one person who can keep the party united for victory in 2024 then that is Dr. Bawumia.
Over the years and since becoming a vice presidential candidate of the party in 2008, Dr. Bawumia has attained the admiration of the top echelon as well as grassroots of the party. It is an open secret that people who considered him serious internal political foes and openly opposed his selection in 2008 have confessed of being proven wrong by his extraordinary talent and manners. His unmatched humility, brilliance, diligence, hardwork and utmost respect for both the elderly and young are the exact qualities that are needed in every leader who needs to keep the so-called taps on party agitation and ensure coherence. It is these same qualities inherently possessed by Dr. Bawumia that has earned him the admiration and love of respected party folks.
His consistent hardwork and dedication to the cause of the party earned him a consolidated constituency during his active periods in opposition at a time when others were very dormant only to reappear when the signs of victory were written all over in 2016. In Government, he has remained diligent and hardworking not only in planning all major Government policies but also at the forefront in advocacy defending Government.
Dr. Mensah also made an absurd claim that the other party stalwarts and their followers who have contested President Akufo-Addo previously will find it humiliating to accept Dr. Bawumia's leadership and that can destabilise the NPP. The fact is, aside Dr. Bawumia, there is currently no aspirant that has a gargantuan amalgamation of party faithfuls who hitherto were loyal to other candidates. A huge segment of top party people and grassroot supporters who are presently calling on Dr. Bawumia to contest were notable supporters of Mr. Kyerematen, Joe Ghartey and Dr. Apraku. So Dr. Bawumia's leadership will be an easy umbrella for all disgruntled party people to unite under than any of the other aspirants.
LEADERSHIP BASED ON COMPETENCE NOT INHERENT SEQUENCE ACCORDING TO AGE
Dr. Kobby Mensah claimed that the NPP had an inherent leadership path which ascribes power to persons in an ordered sequence based on 'seniority' and consistency. His claim is a furtherance of propaganda championed by followers of a particular candidate who have banked their false hopes on the fact that their candidate contested previously. This argument is moot not only because there is no such code prescribed by the party but because it is a skewed analysis to suit one candidate who has 'seniors' who contested previously and thus more qualified than him under such non-existent sequence.
Furthermore, the NPP prides itself as a party that is development oriented and thus gives much preference to the intelligence, diligence and hardwork of Dr. Bawumia than the so-called imaginary criteria of ordered sequence based on seniority.
COMPETENCE OVER AGE CONSIDERATIONS
Dr. Mensah argued that the voting preference in Ghana and across the African continent limits the winnability coefficient of young presidential aspirants during general elections. He said “You realize that the Ghanaian voter often goes for an elderly person, and not only that, almost all African country, you see a certain level of age. And I think a reason why President Mahama struggled was because of the age-factor. People associated young persons with a certain lifestyle”. This assertion is not supported by the available facts and should not be coming from an academic. In 1992, a younger Jerry Rawlings beat Prof Adu Boahene and Hilla Liman who were older than him. In 1996, a much younger Jerry Rawlings beat President Kufour who was older than him. In 2012 though disputed, a much younger John Mahama was declared winner over Akufo-Addo who was much older. So it is very clear that the Ghanaian voter pattern is not based on age preference but a multiplicity of factors which if looked at holistically puts Dr. Bawumia as a favorite ahead of any candidate internally or externally.
Let it be known by all that the DMB brand is unsullied and no amount of maligning can change this fact. Dr. Bawumia for 2024 is a calling spearheaded by the grassroots of the party who have realized that the candidate capable of breaking the 8 in 2024 is the quintessential Dr. Bawumia.
Thank you
Source: Dr. Issah Imoro ([email protected])
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Please get it right here! There is no doubt about competence and the hard-working Alan. But he has a better contender, Bawumia, and his present position as a vice president, which to date, he has performed credibly well, gives him a hierarchy advantage over Alan. And you would agree with me, Dr. Bawumia is doing a great job; as a Vice President. That notwithstanding, the beauty of democracy maintains that confirmed with the nods of the electorates. Hence, my humble advice to the NPP is to present Bawumia/Alan ticket, and I bet that can set the 16-year term circle.
People have different opinion and mentality. Sometimes l found it difficult to understand the reasoning of some people? Who resigned to come back to claim loyalty ? Anyway Alan kyeremanteng threatened to resign or resigned but came back to help the party he has been a founding member to help us win election . Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia resigned from Dombo's NPP in the North to cross Carpet for a ministerial position in CPP and never returned to UP tradition again but later joined NDC and subsequently became the chairman of Council of state in NDC government. Now his son Bawumia didn't find the party attractive to join but took a party card after being given a position on a silver platter . Please let's think deep about our great party . Bawumia can never even get 30% in national election mark my word . We must think and reason well cos some many factors won't help his cause to the great elephant party
I think Dr. Bawumia has grown into the stalwarts of the NPP by the virtues of his position as a Vice President. The Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, has competently performed credibly well. And above all, he has represented the President in his absence, brilliantly and commendably well. The question is whether Dr. Bawumia has the marketable credentials to lead the party as its presidential candidate in the 2024 elections? The assumption that he can't keep the taps on the party agitations to ensure coherence is clearly, false. Then, his popularity to date in the party is phenomenal and is not just fallen from heaven. And I bet he and the party have the competence to select the party executives to maintain the coherence in the party. I do not believe Dr. Bawumia would lightly desert or exit the party for any misunderstanding and problems. Only to rescind after deliberations, advice, and rejoin the party to claim loyalty. Furthermore, the African population is very youthful, and it was high time that we responsively changed the leadership. And with Bawumia, Ghana is better poised to play a leading role.
Dr. Issah Imoro which part of the world are you living? I really don't think you live in Ghana where Dr. Bawumia is the Vice President and, for that matter, the leader of the Economic Management Team. If you didn't know, let me tell you Dr. Bawumia has not become a laughingstock in Ghana. All his economic theories have fallen flat on his head. He has now gone to hide under the umbrella of digitalization. Maybe Dr. Imoro has chanced upon any of his ridiculous claims videos making rounds on social. It is not for nothing that today when you google "who is the biggest liar in Ghana" it is Dr. Bawumia's name that pops up. You want the NPP to send such a person as candidate to go and face John Mahama's NDC that nearly toppled us in the last election, thanks to the Ashanti Region. I don't think the NPP would mistakenly present a non-Christian against a Christian candidate of the NDC in a country where we have over 70% Christians. The NPP people I know aren't that ***barred word***. Dr. Imoro, kindly go the grassroots to find out for yourself whether they want to hear the name Bawumia. In fact they don't even want to hear the name of the president much less Bawumia. The current system has really disappointed the grassroots of the party and so they are crying for a complete change of leadership. That's why Alan Kyerematen's has become the most-mentioned at the grassroots. I agree with Dr. Kobby Mensah that Dr. Bawumia who is only 13 years in the party has no foundation. Without Nana Addo, Dr. Bawumia would be nothing in the party. Most of the bigwigs aren't ready to bow to a 13-year old member of the party who only joined the party because he was offered a juicy position as the running mate. How do we even determine the loyalty of someone who didn't walk to the party's office to pick a membership form to become a member of the party. If he really loves the party, he would have joined in 1992 because he was of voting age at the time Honestly speaking Bawumia is a hovering disaster.
As a party man l have interacted with a lot of people and realised Bawumia can't help us . He is out of the equation. I think he must be told but some people are hypocrites . The guy must retire . The grounds doesn't favour Bawumia, l can confidently say this
Why will Ghanaians always hide the truth and defend with emotions what won't help our course. I don't know Dr. Mensah from Adam but he spoke the truth . Where is Bawumia's foundation in NPP ? . As matter of fact he didn't even have a party card prior to him being chosen as a Vice presidential candidate. Listen l am not a prophet of doom but if NPP makes a mistake to bring Bawumia in 2024, what will his message be ? He has already lost credibility, religious card will be played against him, no reasonable and Solid NPP member will support Bawumia irrespective of the money he is sharing and kneeling to beg people to support him . Lets call a spade a spade Bawumia can't get even 30% in National election in Ghana. Mark my words
Dr. Kobby Mensah has shot himself in the foot when he claimed This impression about Dr. Mensah's posture is further reinforced when prior to the 2020 polls he made an uninformed claim that Dr. Bawumia’s assertion on Ghana’s universal QR Code being the first by any African country was false. He was soon to be exposed and educated that it was his assertion which was false and not Dr. Bawumia's evidence based statement.
We’ll canvas for him to be our President with or without foundation. We need solutions not foundations.
I will score Dr. Issa Imoro,in his response to that false peddler and others like him, an A1. Brilliant response there Doc. DMB!!