The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unleashed its attack dogs on the Vice President of IMANI Africa, Mr. Kofi Bentil for unapologetically choosing Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia over the main opposition party’s flagbearer John Dramani Mahama.
Mr. Bentil in various Facebook posts, made a strong case for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer and the Vice President of Ghana ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Dr. Bawumia, he argued, is the best among the two leading contenders in the 2024 polls and will be a better president than the former President, who Ghanaians rejected in the 2016 and 2020 general elections.
Despite the limitations of Vice Presidents in Ghana’s constitutional architecture, Mr. Bentil reiterated, “I trust VP Bawumia. Because he has been the best VP ever. Even under trying circumstances, he has shown himself not corrupt and indeed has been effective in delivering some crucial transformations.”
Accordingly, he entreated Ghanaians to grant the Vice President a fair and objective hearing and that the second gentleman of the land deserves the opportunity to showcase his capabilities as president.
“We gave Prez Mahama a chance to be President, the least we can do is give Dr Bawumia a fair and objective hearing. He is not President, and has never been President! I have no doubt he will be better!”, he stressed.
Pointing out the role of a Vice President in Ghana, Mr. Bentil pointed out that beyond standing in for the President during absences, the Vice President wields limited power.
“He is like an advisor,” Bentil explained, reminding Ghanaians “There’s a good reason Kwame Nkrumah refused to have a Vice President!”
He urged all well-meaning Ghanaians to keep an open mind, saying, “I am entitled like everyone to my belief and choice and I believe he is a better choice.
“All the rest of us need to do, is give the man a fair hearing. Of course you’re entitled to your choice but you cheat yourself if you close your ears.”
‘Attack dogs’
Mr. Bentil’s unrepentant belief in and support for Dr. Bawumia appeared to have unsettled a highly desperate opposition NDC, which has characteristically unleashed its hirelings on the IMANI Africa Vice President.
Among those behaving like uncontrolled attack dogs in a jungle are Professor Ransford Gyampo and Professor Kobby Mensah, both at the University of Ghana.
Even though the two university professors are descending heavily on Mr. Bentil for forcefully expressing his views with lucid arguments, they are not bold enough to mention their preferred presidential candidate and give his alternative credentials.
More baffling to political watchers, is the senior political science lecturer who appeared to have forgotten the role of a vice president as enshrined in Ghana’s constitution.
Prof. Gyampo attacked Kofi Bentil in a Facebook post without giving any alternative.
“Dear sir, you cannot be one of the loudest critics of this regime and suddenly make a case of its remnants to be given hearing when things are growing from bad to worst. A smarter strategy could have been used. This one is outmoded at birth!” Prof. Gyampo jabbed Bentil.
On his part, Prof. Kobby Mensah said “on the part of Ghanaians, we gave Bawumia ample fair hearing in 2012 and 2016 as he championed his infamous theories, including the FTTP-from taxation to production. How did that fare? All of us can attest to his outmost failure, leading to the ‘Nwisie tax’ today.”
Political pundits are questioning the sincerity of these two professors as they pretend not to understand the simple difference between championing the manifesto promises of a political party during campaigns and a being leader or the decision-maker of the government in power.
NDC attacks
Again, the NDC through its National Communications Officer also took a swipe at Mr. Bentil.
In a social media post, Sammy Gyamfi, sang the chorus of the friendly professors, repeating that Ghanaians had already given Bawumia a significant hearing in 2016 when he held numerous lectures to discuss economic issues.
According to him, Dr. Bawumia’s eloquence and rhetoric during those times had earned him the trust of Ghanaians to manage the country’s economy.
