The National Democratic Congress (NDC) believes that Ghanaians would be handing over power once again to President Akufo-Addo should they vote for the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for election 2024, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Speaking at a press conference, the NDC’s General Secretary Fiifi Kwetey, explained that Dr Bawumia has been a part of the Akufo-Addo’s government and instrumental to many of its decisions.

As such, asking Ghanaians to endure more months of nuisance taxes while promising to remove them and make decisions contrary to those of this government is only flattery, Mr Kwetey noted.

“Think seriously about this, ladies, and gentlemen. This is why we insist that a vote for Bawumia is in reality just a third term for Akufo-Addo. This so-called promise comes from the same men who have used flattery to deceive you with their promise to move Ghana from taxation to production."

Additionally, Mr Kwetey said that "the Vice President’s previous promises to reduce the tax burden on Ghanaians, not to tax our mobile money wallets, and to lower import duties on spare parts are just a few of the promises that have turned into a lie."

The NDC General Secretary raised concerns about Dr Bawumia’s credibility stating that he cannot be trusted and therefore is not fit to lead the country.

“This same man suddenly thinks Ghanaians have a short memory and is once again promising to scrap taxes to hoodwink the Ghanaian electorate. Should we remind him that Ghanaians still remember his instrumental role in crafting the obnoxious E-levy policy, as was confirmed publicly by the then Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Mr John Boadu, their former General Secretary?"

"We still remember his important role in the recent IMF negotiations. His actions have resulted in the implementation of the Emissions Levy, which many consider useless, and the imposition of VAT on previously exempt items," he said.

Mr Kwetey said that Dr Bawumia should apologise to Ghanaians and lead the campaign to abolish the new taxes imposed now and not in 2025.

“The Ghanaian people cannot live through another day of these suffocating taxes, let alone ten good months. The time to scrap the crippling and draconian taxes that the NPP has imposed on suffering Ghanaians is now!”

• Read also: E-Levy will be abolished if I’m voted into power – Dr Bawumia

On Wednesday, February 7, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia addressed Ghanaians in a lecture dubbed 'Ghana’s Next Chapter: Selfless Leadership and Bold Solutions for the Future' at the University of Professional Studies in Accra.

In the lecture, he outlined his goals for the country as the flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) while urging Ghanaians to vote for him in the upcoming general elections.

Among the many policies promised were the abolishing of the E-Levy as part of efforts to make Ghana a cashless society and the introduction of policies that would help eliminate the proposed VAT on electricity, emissions tax and betting tax.

“As Vice-President, I am like a driver’s mate. But if, by the Grace of God, you make me President, I will be in the driver's seat with constitutionally mandated authority to pursue my vision and my priorities.”

“Clearly, the initial conditions that we inherited in 2017 are not the same as will be in 2025. Therefore, my priorities will be different. We have done many good things and I will be seeking to build on them,” he noted.

But, Mr Kwetey stressed that the Vice President has a “bigger character deficit”.

“How is it possible to trust a Vice President who has shown no penitence or remorse about deliberately lying and conning the people of Ghana? A man who believes that leaders can continue to fool all the people all the time.”