Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has responded to the urgent inquiry of why certain significant pledges made in his platform have not been fulfilled under his administration.
When asked why important tax reforms, such import duty reductions and tax amnesties, haven’t been implemented during a Sunday, August 25, media interaction at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, Dr. Bawumia explained the limitations of his position as Vice President.
“The budget that has gone to Parliament, which has been passed, is not my budget, is it my budget? It’s not my budget.”
“The budget goes in the name of the President, it doesn’t go in the name of the Vice President,” he stated, emphasizing that his influence is limited within the framework of his current position.
Dr. Bawumia emphasized—making a contrast to former President John Mahama—that his vision for these reforms is linked to his ambitions for the presidency.
He made the argument that even Mahama, who had all presidential authority, was unable to keep all of his campaign pledges.
“Even President Mahama, who was president—I’m only Vice President—but he was President. Why didn’t he do everything then? I mean, why is he coming back?”
“He had full authority. I don’t have full authority,” he stated, underlining the inherent differences in the roles of President and Vice President.
He went on to emphasise the need for new proposals for future leadership, pointing out that each contender needs to draft a new platform for the president.
“When you have to think about what new you want to do, you come up with new ideas, and I’ve come up with new ideas which I want to do when we come into office,” he said, drawing parallels with other vice-presidential candidates worldwide.
As he concluded, Dr. Bawumia established a clear division between his position as Vice President and his goals for the presidency by stating that his present plans and manifesto pledges are intended to be carried out should he be elected President in the forthcoming election on December 7.