In 216 days Nana Akufo-Addo will be president elect of Ghana, the running mate of the New Patriotic Party has declared.

According to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the wind of change is blowing and there is nothing anybody can do to stop the change.

The former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana made the declaration whilst addressing students of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, at the Tarkwa Roman Catholic Parish Hall.

In a charged atmosphere, Dr Bawumia touched on corruption, unemployment, Ghana's debt burden and other key issues affecting the economy.

The feisty critic of government minced no words in his accusing the Mahama led government of recklessly managing the economy.

 “In the last seven years alone under this NDC government Ghana’s total debt has ballooned from GH¢9.5billion to GH¢97 billion by the end of 2015 and GH¢111 billion by the end of March 2016! What is clear is that over 90% (i.e. GHC101.5 billion) of Ghana’s total debt since independence has been accumulated under this NDC government between 2009-2015 i.e. the last seven years and three months”, he said.

Dr. Bawumia noted that records from the Bank of Ghana indicate that in the first three months of 2016, the NDC had borrowed a whopping GHC14 billion taking the total debt to GHC111 billion.

“Indeed, the GHC 14billion debt accumulated by the NDC government in the first three months of this year is much more than the total debt of GHC9.5 billion at the end of 2008, when the NDC took office.”

The NPP Vice-Presidential Candidate pointed out that the reckless borrowing in the last seven years had taken a toll on the economy and vital sectors.

“The real effects of the reckless borrowing undertaken in the last seven years is seen in the magnitude of interest payments Ghana has been burdened with, which has meant that vital resources which should have gone into vital sectors, infrastructural development and social services, are now being pumped into settling our debt obligations.

“In 2015, interest payment amounted to more than GH¢9.6 billion. That figure was more than the total debt stock of GH¢9.5 billion in 2008 at the end of President Kufuor’s term for which debt stock both President Mills and John Mahama lampooned the NPP government”, he said.

Dr. Bawumia stated that the youth of the country had two-clear alternatives before them and was convinced that between a future of joblessness and hopelessness and one of jobs and economic transformation, the youth will choose right.

“This election is about the future of this nation and about your future. We have before us the two clear alternatives – one where the future is just like the present or even worse; and the other, a bright future. We have the choice between a nation with continuous unprecedented joblessness and a nation and economy which keeps producing well-paying jobs for our youth; we have a choice between a nation which is unable to meet its statutory demands and one with a blossoming economy which is able to meet its demands; we have a choice between a nation where our resources are invested rightly to our collective benefit and one where our resources are pilfered into the bank accounts and pockets of a few; we have a choice between a nation which is globally competitive, people friendly and business friendly and one which is unable to compete with even its peers and continues to fall down the order."

“These are the clear alternatives and it is time to arise for change. Change for our future, change for our jobs, change for our education and change for a globally competitive economy”, he concluded.

Dr. Bawumia was accompanied to the forum by National Youth Organizer of the NPP, Sammy Awuku.