The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has doubled down on his demand for the New Patriotic Party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to address critical issues regarding Ghana’s economy, rather than deflecting with “useless” questions.

Speaking at a rally in the Savelugu Constituency on Wednesday, former President Mahama criticised Vice President Bawumia’s response to his initial economic queries with a list of 50 counter-questions.

This comes in response to Dr Bawumia’s recent decision to respond to Mr Mahama’s five economic questions with his own set of 50 questions.

QUESTIONS FOR JOHN MAHAMA

I have just read questions posed to me by former President Mahama. I would have thought he would be man enough to face me in a one-on-one debate for the Ghanaian public to assess our respective policies, achievements and visions. He should not hide… pic.twitter.com/p3ViKn5KkT

— Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (@MBawumia) October 30, 2024

Mr Mahama had initially challenged Dr Bawumia to address critical economic issues, asking:

• Why is the exchange rate now GH¢17 to the dollar?
• Why has Ghana’s debt increased from GH¢120 billion to GH¢767 billion in the past eight years?
• Why has inflation risen to 54% under the current administration?
• Why has the government borrowed GH¢42 billion from the Bank of Ghana?
• Why he is running away from the economy and focusing on digitalisation?

Reiterating these questions at Savelugu, Mr Mahama urged Dr Bawumia to answer them directly, arguing that they reflect the concerns of ordinary Ghanaians.

“I woke up this morning and saw 50 questions from him. It looks like our Vice President has just memorised these things like we used to learn poems in primary school.

“I asked you five simple questions that Ghanaians want you to answer, and instead, you respond with, ‘How many compost plants did you build?’ That’s not the issue in Ghana today.”

To emphasize the importance of economic issues, Mr Mahama drew a parallel with the 1992 U.S. election, citing the Clinton campaign’s famous slogan, “It’s the economy, stupid!” He stated, “I am repeating those words. This election is about the economy, Stupid. It is not about all those useless things who built how many compost plants.”