Bawumia’s call for Debate: Ghanaians want Mano-a-media, not Mano-a mano

The vice president and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called for a presidential debate between himself and former president and the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Mahama, he stated that, “Let’s meet Mano-a-mano” which literally means, let’s meet man and man.

Well, it is within his right to call for such a debate, however, it is within our rights as Ghanaians to decide if such a debate is needed or not. After a critical review of the current political atmosphere in the country, it is glaring that, Ghanaians want transparency rather than rhetoric and regurgitation of researched academic poetry.

Former president Mahama has been transparent with Ghanaians by presenting himself to the media to subject him to microscopic scrutiny, the media scrutinised him with series of questions and he came out squeaky clean, unscathed with his integrity enhanced. This is what Ghanaians want “Mano- a-media.

The NDC did not invite only media organisations that are sympathetic towards them, instead, they invited almost every media house in the country and allowed each of them to ask the NDC flagbearer questions after his sterling extempore speech. This is a courageous initiative that can only be adopted by someone who has no skeleton in their closet.

Ghanaians want Dr. Bawumia to also engage the media in the same manner that former president Mahama did, after that, then the possibility of a presidential debate will be analysed. Dr. Bawumia and his team should not be selective in the media organisations that attends, they should not invite, only Peace FM, Asempa FM, Oman FM, Daily Guide, Asaase Radio and their ilk, because these are all biased media organisations without objective and neutral approach to national issues, the NPP should invite all media organisations irrespective of their party affiliations as the NDC did.

The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia should boldly undertake such a move, if he does and come out clean without being exposed, embarrassed, bruised and damaged, due to the current state of the economy and the sufferings being endured by millions of Ghanaians in relations to the mouth-watering promises he made to Ghanaians during his days in opposition, then we may need “mano-a-mano”, but for now we want “mano-a-media”

Dr. Bawumia should engage the media and answer why he accused the former president of incompetence at a time when the exchange rate was USD1 to GHC3.6, at a time when the national debt stock was GHC122 billion, unemployment at 7% and inflation at 14%. He should engage the media and answer whether the fundamentals are weak or not because he famously stated that “you can engage in all the propaganda you want, but if the fundamentals are weak the exchange rate will expose you”. Today the exchange rate is USD1 to GHC16, national debt stock is GHC742 billion, unemployment 14% and inflation at 23.7% after it went as high as 57%, he should go to the media and answer these questions.

Dr. Bawumia should engage the media and answer why he has failed to restore the value of the cedi, because he delivered a lecture on 25th May 2014, at the Central University College, with the title “How to restore the value of the cedi” at the time USD1 was GHC3.60 and uploaded the lecture on twitter (now X) and referred former president Mahama to go and learn from his uploaded lecture how restore the value of the cedi.

With all these evidence of his incompetence and dishonesty, it is understandable that, Dr. Bawumia cannot and will not even conceive the thought of engaging the media and give the opportunity to subject him to scrutiny in a manner that was done by former President Mahama, needless to say actualise such thought.

Dr. Bawumia will be devoured by the intelligent journalists in this country with their microscopic scrutiny, he will not be able to withstand the questions, they will use his own words to expose him, he will be reduced to absolute nothing if he dares, his presidential ambition will be shattered on the very day he dares subject himself to the media, because he built his political career on fake oral CV with 18^th century Adam Smith’s economic theories, lies, deceptions and mudslinging as well as character assassination.

Until, Dr. Bawumia engages the media in a manner that John Mahama did, he and his party should stop disturbing our peace with this needless and self-serving agenda of a presidential debate.