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Bawumia will face tough scrutiny if elected flagbearer – Asah Asante
Political scientist and Head of the Centre for European Studies at the University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah Asante, has warned that former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will face intense scrutiny from political opponents if he emerges as flagbearer.
Dr Asah Asante shared his views while assessing the strengths and weaknesses of leading contenders in the ongoing flagbearer contest.
He acknowledged that opinion polls currently favour Dr Bawumia, noting that many of the surveys are based on scientific methods.
However, he cautioned that popularity alone does not guarantee electoral victory.
According to him, politics goes beyond winning internal contests and opinion polls, stressing that a candidate must be able to attract votes nationwide and ultimately secure power.
Dr Asah Asante explained that a candidate may look strong on posters and surveys but still struggle to convince voters during a general election.
He argued that what matters most is whether the candidate has the full set of leadership qualities needed to win power.
Touching on Dr Bawumia’s prospects, he noted that if the former Vice President is elected, the opposition will rely heavily on recordings and past statements linked to his time in government.
He mentioned issues such as the National Cathedral project, the Pwalugu Dam, job losses, and what he described as weaknesses of the previous administration.
Dr Asah Asante explained that even if Dr Bawumia was not directly responsible for some of these issues, his association with the former government would work against him.
He stressed that these matters would likely be used to question his credibility and performance.
He commented on Kennedy Agyapong, describing him as energetic and full of ideas.
However, he pointed out that Mr Agyapong’s past public outbursts and recorded statements could also be used against him during a national campaign.
Dr Asah Asante concluded that both leading contenders have strengths, but they also carry political baggage that opponents are likely to exploit in a general election contest.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Director of Communications for the United Party, Solomon Owusu, has expressed strong disappointment following the Supreme Court decision to quash the rerun of the Kpandai parliamentary election.
Mr Owusu made his views known while reacting to the ruling, stressing that he would feel deeply disappointed if he were in the position of Matthew Nyindam, the current Member of Parliament for Kpandai.
He explained that the High Court had earlier examined the case in detail and arrived at a clear determination on the matter.
According to him, the High Court found that the election was compromised and that rigging took place with the involvement of the Electoral Commission.
Mr Owusu pointed out that when the New Patriotic Party moved the case to the Supreme Court, it did not challenge the substance of the High Court findings.
He stated that the appeal was based purely on a point of law, arguing that the National Democratic Congress was time barred when it went to court, and not that the alleged rigging did not occur.
In his view, this means that Mr Nyindam remains in Parliament through an election process that did not reflect the true will of the people of Kpandai.
Mr Owusu noted that this was why he had expected a rerun of the election, to allow the MP to return to the constituency and properly establish his authority through the ballot.
He explained that a rerun would have given Mr Nyindam the opportunity to prove that he genuinely won the 2024 parliamentary election.
With the rerun now quashed, Mr Owusu questioned how the MP could celebrate or take pride in the court outcome.
He stressed that he would no longer take contributions made by Mr Nyindam in Parliament seriously, as the legitimacy of his mandate remains questionable in his view.
Mr Owusu further argued that the Supreme Court decision has shortchanged the people of Kpandai.
He described the ruling as unfair to voters who woke up early on election day, queued patiently, and voted for a candidate of their choice, only for their will to be undermined.
According to him, the outcome raises serious concerns about justice, electoral credibility, and respect for the democratic rights of the people.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana is taking steps to exit its International Monetary Fund IMF programme before the end of the year, says the minister of education, Haruna Iddrisu.
Mr Iddrisu made this known while speaking on the country’s economic recovery efforts and ongoing discussions with international partners.
He explained that government has already begun conversations beyond the IMF programme, including engagements with other international financial institutions to support Ghana’s post IMF economic path.
According to him, discussions have taken place with development finance institutions such as the World Bank and the European Development Corporation Fund, which he described as sources of friendly and concessional financing.
Mr Iddrisu noted that these partners have shown strong interest and readiness to support Ghana as it transitions away from the IMF arrangement.
He indicated that preparations are underway for life after the IMF, expressing confidence that Ghana could exit the programme either before the end of August or by the close of the year.
The minister assured that alternative financing options are being explored to ensure economic stability once the IMF programme ends.
He referenced outstanding financial figures, including earnings and cumulative amounts running into billions of dollars, which he noted require careful consideration as part of the transition process.
Mr Iddrisu stressed the need for transparency and prudent management of these finances to protect the national interest and sustain economic gains made under the IMF programme.
He maintained that Ghana’s exit from the IMF must be well planned to avoid setbacks and to ensure that the economy remains stable and resilient going forward.
By: Jacob Aggrey
