New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says businesses in Ghana continue to face high operating costs despite the stability of the cedi under the Mahama administration.
He also said Ghanaians were still experiencing a high cost of living, accusing the government of damaging businesses despite having promised to create jobs.
“A government that promised jobs is destroying businesses…Despite the cedi stability, businesses continue to suffer, and the cost of living is high,” Dr Bawumia said at the NPP conference in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3.
He further criticised the government over what he described as its failure to deliver several major campaign pledges.
According to Dr Bawumia, the administration had yet to introduce its proposed 24-hour economy, including the promised 1:3:3 shift system, nearly two years after taking office.
“The government is struggling to fulfil many of the lofty promises. Youth in search of jobs flagbear the 24-hour economy,” he said.
“Nearly 2 years have passed, and the jobs have not come or shown signs of coming.”
The conference is being held as the NPP elects its national executives ahead of Ghana’s 2028 general elections. Dr Bawumia said Saturday marked the start of what he called a new and glorious chapter for the party.
He also appealed to all candidates contesting the internal elections to respect the outcome.
“Please accept the results in good faith,” he said.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin urged the NPP and the Minority to challenge the government’s decisions without fear of arrest or intimidation.
He said the party had a responsibility to hold the Mahama administration accountable.
“Let’s hold the government accountable without fear of arrest and intimidation,” Mr Afenyo-Markin said at the Kumasi conference.
Describing Dr Bawumia as “a doer and problem solver”, he called on party members to unite behind efforts to reorganise the NPP and support its flagbearer before the 2028 elections.
“The Lord is with us; come 2028, we shall prevail,” he said.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor told the conference in a video message that Ghanaians were looking to the NPP to lead the country towards prosperity and transformation.
“Ghana needs NPP to lead to prosperity and transformation,” he said.
He urged delegates choosing the party’s new national leaders to carefully assess which candidates could help restore public confidence and respect the principle that sovereignty belongs to the people.
Former President Akufo-Addo said the NPP would, “With God’s guidance”, win the 2028 election and form the next government with Dr Bawumia, as it had done in 2000 and 2016.
Delegates are voting to choose the party’s next national executives at the National Delegates Congress in Kumasi. The NPP has also proposed and adopted several constitutional amendments for consideration at the congress.
