Former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has said that Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who is also aspiring to be the flag bearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections is weak.
Quoting from a speech in Professor Frimpong-Boateng’s open letter, Host of TV3’s Hot Issues, Keminni Amanor on Sunday, October 22, 2023, posed a question to Prof Frimpong-Boateng whether or not he sees Dr. Bawumia as a poor choice for the NPP. To that he said “I am not saying he is a poor choice, I mean if you are strong then we will leave him to compete on level playing field. But then if party people, government appointees are more or less whipped in line, to tow that line, it shows that he is weak and he needs that kind of support,” Professor Frimpong-Boateng noted.
He also explained why he sees Dr. Bawumia as the most vulnerable among the candidates aspiring to represent the NPP in the 2024 general elections.
“The thing is, it is not his fault that he wanted to maybe deceive people. But then you’ve made a pronouncement and now you’ve been charged by those pronouncements. This is what I am saying, because he is the Vice President, he has been exposed for eight years, he is bound to have done certain things which will come back to hurt him. This is what I am saying that he is more vulnerable than the rest because the rest didn’t have that exposure,” he added.
Keminni further asked if Prof. Frimpong-Boateng sees Dr. Bawumia as the party’s favourite candidate to which he answered “yes, he seems to be a favourite of people who seem to matter in the party and so on. But I still say that if he has the money in a country that is still struggling with certain payments and if he has the support of the party people and support of government establishment, then of course you expect him to win the initial one (special delegates’ conference),” he stressed.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng also asserted that it is possible for the New Patriotic Party to win the 2024 general elections regardless of whoever wins the presidential primary although it is going to be tough.
“It is possible, NPP can win but it is not going to be easy. We need to work hard and also be able to answer the many questions. The last one wasn’t easy so this one is going to be more difficult,” he indicated.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng was asked by the host if the NPP should be given another chance in government to which he replied “Not in this present configuration. I wish that there would be a change. To be honest with you, I cannot be on the same side as the supposedly Defacto Prime Minister. I cannot be on the same team. So, in that respect, there must be a change.”
He also said he wish there was a strong third component that will offer strong competition to both the NPP and the NDC.
“Ideally, this duopoly NPP NDC although I am a member of the NPP, I will wish that we had a strong third component that will offer strong competition to both NPP and NDC so that Ghanaians will have a choice, a broader choice. Because otherwise this party will rule and then toss Ghanaians over to the next one and then we will be struggling.
“I like the NPP but not in this present configuration. But I like Ghana more. I want to see a Ghana that is good, creating jobs, creating wealth so that young people will have a future in this country.” he stated.
Esther Nyantakyiwaa Akaba|Onuaonline.com
