Bawumia’s Plagiarized Addo Biney’s Electoral Area Development Fund

A recent article praising Dr. Bawumia's Electoral Area Development Fund policy, as endorsed by Presiding Members, overlooks a glaring issue—it’s not his original idea.

Former spokesperson for Accra Metropolitan Assembly Members, Hon. Isaac Bright Assah, exposed Dr. Bawumia for plagiarizing the well-established Electoral Area Development Fund policy of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, where Assembly Members are allocated funds for projects within their Electoral Areas. This policy was created and implemented by a group of visionary and progressive Assembly Members during the tenure of the late Hon. Addo Biney, who served as Presiding Member of AMA from 2011 to 2015. The initiative, popularly referred to as Addo Biney’s Area Fund, aimed to provide a common fund enabling Assembly Members to undertake small projects in their constituencies. Since then, it has become a permanent and well-established policy within AMA.

While political leaders often borrow ideas, it is disingenuous not to credit the originator. Dr. Bawumia’s campaign appears to repackage existing policies under his own name, without acknowledging those responsible for the initial concept, which makes his approach seem opportunistic rather than innovative.

Hon. Isaac Bright Assah rightly questions how a policy already in place at AMA suddenly became part of Dr. Bawumia’s platform. His criticism points not only to plagiarism but also to political dishonesty. Rather than respecting the late Hon. Addo Biney’s legacy, Dr. Bawumia’s camp appears to appropriate it for political gain. The Movement for Change and Accountable Governance urges progressive Assembly Members to resist this unethical practice and attempt to obliterate and replace Addo Biney’s Electoral Area Fund with Dr. Bawumia’s campaign promise. Accountability and intellectual honesty are crucial to maintaining integrity in governance. Should Dr. Bawumia’s team continue down this path, it risks tarnishing not only his reputation but also the credibility of his campaign.

Dr. Bawumia has blatantly repackaged existing policies, attempting to claim the Electoral Area Development Fund as his own, despite it being the established work of the late Hon. Addo Biney. This raises serious concerns about Dr. Bawumia’s leadership and honesty, casting doubt on his ability to govern with integrity. As head of the Economic Management Team, his record has been one of failure, and his appropriation of existing policies only underscores his lack of innovation, vision, and creativity. Ghanaians must reject this recycled leadership that has failed to deliver meaningful results.

Ebenezer Ato NTARKURFAH Jackson, Cornell University MBA Class of 2015, EAJ72@CORNELL.EDU

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