Bawumia has become a jocular, if he doesn't lie, he will joke; are smartphones the needs of Ghanaians — Malik Basintale slams Bawumia

Bawumia [left] and Basintale

Malik Basintale, the Deputy National Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has criticized Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's promise to provide smartphones to Ghanaians on a credit basis, labeling it as a "misplaced priority."

In an interview on TV3 Newday, Basintale argued that the government should instead focus on more urgent issues.

"Providing smartphones doesn't meet the demands of Ghanaians. After they get the smartphones on credit, will it solve the unemployment problem?" he questioned.

"Go to the airport and see the number of people leaving the country. We must advise Dr. Bawumia to be serious. He should look at Mahama and the kind of policies he wants to bring. Dr. Bawumia has suddenly become a jocular person; if he doesn't lie, he will joke," he added.

Basintale emphasized that campaigns should be about policies that address people's needs.

"As I speak, the rains have started. The people in Dr. Bawumia's hometown are waiting for the spill of the Bagre Dam, and Dr. Bawumia believes a smartphone is needed at this time," he noted.

He added that NABCO trainers and school feeding caterers have not been paid for several months.

"Do you think the policy is a smartphone on credit, school feeding caterers, a bag of fertilizer has shot up, and you stand before people and all you think is a smartphone on credit? The biggest regret Ghana ever had is Dr. Bawumia as head of the economic management team of this government," Basintale stated.

During a recent campaign event, Dr. Bawumia promised to make smartphones more accessible to Ghanaians if elected president.

He outlined a plan to collaborate with phone manufacturers to provide smartphones to citizens on a credit basis, allowing them to pay a small amount monthly.

"We will make mobile phones accessible. My government will partner with phone manufacturers so that Ghanaians can afford them on credit and pay 1 or 2 cedis every month," he said.

He highlighted the importance of digital inclusion in his administration's agenda, noting that the initiative is part of the government's broader digitization agenda.