Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has issued a heartfelt appeal to President John Mahama, raising alarm over recent developments that he believes undermine Ghana’s democratic foundation and threaten national progress. In a statement, Dr. Bawumia broke a personal vow to remain silent after leaving office, compelled by what he describes as actions that could jeopardize the integrity of Ghana’s democracy.
Dr. Bawumia acknowledged the immense task of governance, particularly for a new administration, and expressed his earlier resolve to allow President Mahama and his government the necessary space to implement their vision. However, he noted that certain actions by the current administration have prompted him to speak out.
The former Vice President criticized what he described as arbitrary dismissals of Ghanaians who were legitimately employed during the previous administration. He found it ironic that a government that campaigned on creating jobs for all Ghanaians is instead rendering people jobless, especially during a period of economic hardship.
“It is ironic that a party which campaigned on the wings of jobs for all Ghanaians is arbitrarily dismissing the same Ghanaians, rendering them jobless, just because a different government employed them to put their talents to bear on the nation’s development,” Dr. Bawumia stated.
He argued that the solution to unemployment is not to dismiss workers but to innovate and create more jobs, adding that many of the affected individuals are public servants and not politicians. In some cases, he noted, people have been dismissed simply for being related to members of the previous government, an action he described as unfair and discriminatory.
Dr. Bawumia also highlighted reports of plans to terminate the appointments of essential workers, including security personnel, nurses, and teachers, merely because they were hired during the tenure of the previous administration. He warned that such actions would have dire consequences for the nation’s development.
Beyond the issue of dismissals, Dr. Bawumia expressed concern over what he described as a growing atmosphere of insecurity. He cited incidents of military raids on the homes of former government officials, attacks on journalists, and mob actions targeting innocent individuals and state institutions. He compared these developments to a military takeover rather than a peaceful democratic transition.
Dr. Bawumia called on President Mahama to reverse these actions and work toward being a president for all Ghanaians. He urged the administration to uphold the democratic principles enshrined in the 1992 Constitution and to ensure fairness and justice for all citizens.
“When Ghanaians voted for change in the 2024 general elections, it manifested the desire to continue with national development, albeit with different people at the helm of affairs,” Dr. Bawumia said. “We must advance our democracy. We must protect our state institutions. We must uphold our Constitution.”