The Vice President and flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the next general election, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama does not understand the ’24-hour economy’ promise he is making to Ghanaians.
He reminded Ghanaians of four long years of power outages popularly known as ‘Dumsor’ during the administration of Mr. Mahama, adding that electricity cannot be guaranteed for this so-called new vision if the former president wins the 2024 general election.
Vice President Bawumia has therefore admonished the electorate to vote for him to bring truly new policies to transform the country.
According to him, Mr. Mahama is the past and he is the future and hope for the nation.
“I will bring new vision; I will bring new policies to transform Ghana. John Mahama is the past, Dr Bawumia is the future. If John Mahama was there, we will be having a ‘dumsor’ economy, we can’t have a 24-hour economy with ‘dumsor’ and so vote for Dr Bawumia in 2024,” he stressed.
Former President Mahama who is the flagbearer of the largest opposition NDC has outlined his vision for a 24-hour economy if he is re-elected as President of Ghana.
The policy, he indicated, will be voluntary with some incentives, to enhance economic growth and create job opportunities to address the high unemployment rate in the country.
However, responding at a mammoth gathering of NPP supporters in Tamale on Monday as part of his ‘Thank You Tour’ of the Northern Ghana, Dr Bawumia said many businesses and organizations both in the public and private sectors of the economy are already operating 24 hours.
According to him, the electricity company of Ghana, Ghana water company, transport companies and many chop bars across the country are opened for 24-hours.
He said as a result of massive digitalisation drive under the Akufo-Addo government, people can now transfer and receive monies for 24 hours in the banking sector of the country.
“Today John Mahama says he has a new idea and what is the new idea; he says he wants a 24-hour economy. 24-hour economy, he doesn’t even understand that promise. Today in Ghana, our hospitals work 24 hours, our electricity company work 24 hours, our water company works 24 hours, our transport companies work 24 hours, many chop bars work 24 hours, isn’t it? Today, because of digitalization, you can transfer money and receive money 24 hours, so he doesn’t understand his own policy, it doesn’t make sense.
“The police is working for 24 hours. The security services are working for 24 hours. So what is this 24-hour economy that you want to bring? Operating 24 hours is an issue for businesses. If you’ll make more money opening 24 hours, there is no law preventing you,” Dr. Bawumia reiterated.
The delegation of the NPP 2024 flagbearer on the thank you tour included National Chairman Mr. Stephen Ayensu Ntim, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament led by Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, government appointees, MMDCEs, party bigwigs and Parliamentary Aspirants among others.