NPP and Bawumia Cannot Be Trusted to Fight Corruption

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has launched a scathing attack on the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its flagbearer, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, accusing them of fostering corruption and nepotism at unprecedented levels. The NDC claims that under Dr. Bawumia's supervision as Vice President, the NPP government has been the most corrupt in the history of Ghana, awarding overpriced contracts to relatives of top government officials through questionable sole-sourcing practices.

Addressing the media at the NDC's "Moment of Truth" series in Accra on Wednesday, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the NDC, alleged that corruption has flourished under the NPP government. He accused Dr. Bawumia of being deeply involved in the corrupt activities and nepotism that have characterized the current administration.

Mr. Gyamfi claimed that several sole-sourced contracts worth millions of Ghana cedis were awarded to companies owned by relatives of Dr. Bawumia. For instance, he pointed out that five contracts worth GHC218 million were awarded to a firm owned by the Vice President's brother, all through sole sourcing.

He highlighted specific examples to substantiate his claims. In 2019, a GHC52.25 million sole-sourced contract was awarded to the said firm for the Phase One rehabilitation of the Sunyani Airport. Again, in 2020, two cocoa road projects—upgrading the 22.18km Assin Akropong-Odomasi-Asibrem road and the 14.50km Kyibosohasowodze bungalow feeder road—were awarded at a cost of GHC83 million to the same company, also through sole sourcing. Additionally, contracts for the rehabilitation of selected roads in Teshi Camp, Southern Command, Military Academy Training School, and other locations in Accra were awarded to the same company.

"This canker of overpriced sole-sourced contracts is causing the nation to lose billions of cedis which could have been invested in productive ventures to create opportunities and prosperity for all Ghanaians," Mr. Gyamfi lamented.

The NDC's Communications Officer further alleged that Dr. Bawumia was "neck deep in the rampant corruption and nepotism" that have marked the current administration, making him unfit to lead any anti-corruption efforts. "He cannot, therefore, be trusted to fight the canker of corruption, as he himself is an integral part of the free-for-all grabbing of state resources," he added.

Mr. Gyamfi urged Ghanaians to reject the NPP and Dr. Bawumia in the upcoming December 7 election, and instead, vote for the NDC's flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama. He emphasized that the former President had the track record and political will to effectively combat corruption.

During his tenure, President Mahama allowed unhindered probes into various corruption scandals, such as the GYEEDA, National Service, and bus branding scandals, demonstrating his commitment to accountability. "President Mahama is a man of impeccable and unblemished integrity," Mr. Gyamfi stated. "He is certainly the visionary and incorruptible leader we can trust to rescue our dear nation from the abyss and lead us to build the Ghana we all want, a Ghana where corrupt officials are punished and stolen funds retrieved for nation building."

The NDC also assured the public that a future NDC government would investigate and recover monies lost through sole-sourced contracts, as part of its broader strategy to fight corruption and restore integrity in governance.