Kufuor Hails Bawumia

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's discourse on the state of the economy when he delivered the Ferdinand O. Ayim Memorial Lectures has earned him an impressive testimonial from former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

A day after the running mate to Nana Akufo-Addo made his submissions, former President Kufuor told Oman FM that he was impressed with the submissions which he said dissected the state of the economy, bringing out the realities.

Nana Akufo-Addo made the right decision in choosing a man who has all it takes to manage the economy of the country.

'You go to a good tailor when you require a fitting garment,' he embellished his impression about the performance of Dr. Bawumia.

Dr. Bawumia, according to the former president, dissected the economy well against the backdrop of the falling value of the cedi and the so-called single digit inflation.

The discourse, former President Kufuor noted, exposed the concealed operations of the Bank of Ghana.

On the comparison between the present government's achievements in office and his tenure, he rubbished it, explaining that he had to send the country to HIPC as an essential measure to address the immediate economic challenges he inherited from his predecessor.

He likened the action of attacking his legacy to a child who sets about to destroy the foundation of a building his father bequeathed to him.

The government, which he headed, he went on, prepared an appropriate foundation upon which his successor continued from. 'We predicted I million tons of cocoa harvest by 2010,' he said.

On the issue of oil and the fact that it was discovered in commercial quantity under his regime, he dismissed the stance of his opponents that they too had a hand in the discovery, having undertaken the search during their tenure.

He drew an analogy using a person who staked lotto continuously without luck. 'Another man pops us who stakes once and wins without ado,' he said.

'Whether they like or not oil was discovered during our tenure,' he said gleefully, pointing out that the noise being made about the authenticity of whether oil was discovered during his tenure or not 'is the propaganda in the country's political culture which we have been talking about.'

The former president spoke about his decision to go for local medical care when he had the option of travelling abroad for the treatment.

'One goes to doctors they trust and since for me there is a doctor around who can deal with my condition, I took the decision. This option obviates the expenses of seeking the same treatment abroad,' he said.

As to whether he would have the energy to join in the campaign for the NPP in the forthcoming campaign season, he said, 'The energy for such engagements is in the hands of God. I will use the little energy at my disposal for the good of Ghana.'

By A.R. Gomda