An Independent Presidential Hopeful for the 2024 election, Kwasi Koranteng has called for the resignation of Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as Chairman of the Economic Management Team.
Mr. Koranteng argued in a statement that the Vice President does not deserve to be on the team, given his abysmal performance.
“It is true that this administration has performed poorly and has led us deeper into economic catastrophe, but they did not bring our Nation here alone. I ask you all and especially the young people who will spend
their lives in abject poverty paying for another government scheme to ravage the wealth of our Nation, ” he said.
His call comes days after the former President John Dramani Mahama made similar calls, the state of the country’s economy requires that he steps aside, for a fresh face to be employed to take over the job.
He said the economic management team under the leadership of Dr. Bawumia has led the country to its worst international credit rating downgrade, diminished confidence in the local economy and resulted in the poor performance of the cedi on the international market, among other things.
Below is Dr. Koranteng’s full statement
Greetings My Fellow Ghanaians, Members of the Press, Members of the IMF committee and most especially the youth of this Nation, whose future is at risk today more than ever.
Thank you for your attendance here today. On the cusp of yet another mortgage financed by the IMF with
guarantees provided by the future blood, sweat, tears and toil of every working Ghanaian, I am here to call for the resignation of Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as the chairman of the Economic Management Team. Barring his willing resignation, I call on every Member of Parliament to act for the good of our Nation and remove him from office. Days ago the NDC standard bearer and former President John Dramani Mahama made a similar call for the immediateresignation of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
He cited as his reason that under the leadership of Dr. Bawumia that the economic leadership team has led Ghana to its worst international credit rating downgrade.
On this rare occasion I agree with former President John
Dramani Mahama.
However, my reasons are more systematic than that cited by the
former President.
It is true that this administration has performed poorly and has led us deeper into economic catastrophe, but they did not bring our Nation here alone.
The hole was begun decades ago and each party the NDC and NPP have equally dug it deeper. The blatant and systematic pilferage of the riches, resources, and labors of Ghana and its people have been and continue to be
perpetrated by the NPP and NDC.
So yes, I agree with the former President in calling for the resignation or removal of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the Economic Management Team but I in no way endorse its replacement with equal incompetents from the NDC.
In announcing the 11-member team President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, called it his dream team.
I ask all of you here today does he mean he produced these members in a dream or is it his dream team because he knows that this cabal will devise a system to benefit from another IMF
bailout.
I ask you all and especially the young people who will spend their lives in abject poverty paying for another government scheme to ravage the wealth of our Nation.
Will this new IMF money build new schools, new hospitals, innovative centers of technology and commerce or provide you with living wage jobs, secure housing, running clean water or any of the basic necessities of 21 st century life?
Will it fund advances in agricultural efficiencies and output? Will it create jobs, prosperity and security for Ghanaians and offer the youth a future that they can treasure, or will it once again pad the bank accounts and enhance the luxurious lifestyles of the NDC, NPP and the Industrial cronies who support them and pay them homage?
Here’s the thing.
In order to accept yet another loan from the IMF there must be a marked change in the function, purpose, mission and goals of this government. For over a decade I have been engaged in working with the
diaspora and the Progressive Alliance Movement to change the dynamics of the Ghanaian government. My battle to have the Representation of the Peoples’ Amendment Act implemented according to the law and my
removal by the EC from the 2020 ballot are an indication of the coziness of the two parties.
The disproportionate salaries, stipends, living expenses, luxury travel, vehicles, household help and sweetheart deals with corporations and foreign governments that benefit only the privileged must end.
The average Ghanaian would be ecstatic to have a home, vehicle and food paid for by the government.
In fact they would be thankful to have safe affordable housing, running water, an effective school system for their children, health care and a livable wage. Ask yourself this question, is this IMF loan to aid Ghana, or is it another bonus payment for government officials?
Since I officially began my independent candidacy for President leading up to the 2020 election, I have offered solutions for innovative government. This includes trimming the wasteful excessive number of
ministries who suck up an extraordinary amount of Ghanaian wealth.
How much of the current IMF loan will end up in the foreign investment accounts of ministers and their associates? Does the economic dream team of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo have a plan for a fair tax system, employment opportunities, entrepreneurial incentives and programs for the Ghanaian people or merely a complex Ponzi scheme to funnel the money into government excess and waste? I do not have all the answers to the problems of this Nation that has been infected by a cancer of government malfeasance, but I
do have concise viable ideas. I need all citizens and especially the youth of this Nation to join me in saving our Nation from the economic collapse that has been ignited by both parties.
Before I take questions, let me leave a couple out there for every Ghanaian to think about.
Is the tax code of Ghana fair? Is Ex-gratia and Article 71 fair when the children of the Nation are hungry and their parents have no jobs?
Is the National Cathedral a National Treasure, or a treasure chest for the pirates who rob Ghana?
The IMF Executive Board approved a $1 billion disbursement to Ghana to address the COVID-19 Pandemic, for what was it used? Was it used for hygiene projects like clean running water? Vaccinations?
Testing? More doctors, nurses, health facilities, or outreach to communities? Can the economic dream team of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo tell us where the $1 Billion was hidden?
We have so much to discuss and plans to lay to save our Nation. GOD BLESS OUR HOMELAND GHANA
I will begin by taking your questions now.