Bawumia: Mahama Gov’t is a Scam, Mocks 24-Hour Economy: ‘Who Buys Koobi at Midnight?’
The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has described the Mahama administration as a “scam.” He accused the government of turning several campaign promises into failed commitments, and mocked the 24-hour economy policy with the question: “Who buys koobi at midnight?”
Speaking at the party’s National Delegates Conference in Kumasi, Bawumia cited cocoa prices, automatic posting of teachers and nurses, cancellation of teacher licensure exams, and payments to customers of collapsed financial institutions as broken promises. “The promise to cocoa farmers to increase the cocoa price to 6,500 cedis has turned out to be a scam,” he said.
He added: “Automatic posting of teachers and nurses and improvement in their conditions of service is another scam. The promise to cancel teacher licensure examinations has proven to be another scam.”
24-hour economy
Turning to the 24-hour economy, he questioned the need for 24-hour markets. “Even the NDC cannot explain why people in my village or your village will wake up at 12 midnight to buy koobi in the market at midnight,” he said.
Abandoned projects
Dr Bawumia accused the government of abandoning inherited projects, especially Agenda 111. He said the district hospital programme, intended to provide district hospitals across the country, had stalled under the NDC administration, adding, “Apparently, this government prefers 24-hour markets to hospitals.”
Free SHS
He also said Free SHS had deteriorated, especially in the area of feeding, while the double-track system remains. He further criticised electricity tariffs, saying the NDC had promised reductions under its 24-hour economy programme, but businesses were instead facing higher bills.
Dr Bawumia expressed solidarity with traders, artisans and small business owners affected by the demolition at La Pleasure Beach in Labadi.
He said years of investment had been destroyed and urged the government to engage the affected persons, provide alternatives and pay compensation. “A government that promised new jobs is instead destroying the ones Ghanaians created for themselves,” he said.
On the economy, Dr Bawumia defended the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, saying it had helped protect the cedi from external shocks, but accused the government of “unprecedented losses” from it in 2025.
Galamsey
He also criticised the government’s handling of illegal mining, saying galamsey had worsened despite NDC promises to tackle it within months.
The former Vice President called for a bipartisan parliamentary investigation into drug consignments linked to Ghana that have been intercepted abroad. “Arresting couriers is not enough. Ghanaians want to know who is financing these shipments and how they keep getting through,” he said.
Dr Bawumia also accused the government of what he described as the “weaponisation of state power,” citing the detention of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah after he surrendered to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). He said the NPP would apply the law equally if returned to power.
Dr Bawumia urged newly elected NPP executives to unite and focus on holding the government accountable ahead of 2028. He expressed confidence the NPP would return to government in 2029, saying it would draw lessons from its previous administration to improve its performance. “When the NPP assumes the reins of office in 2029, we shall bring to bear the lessons of our successes and challenges to do a better job than this government,” he said.
