A Democracy and Development Fellow at CDD-Ghana, John Osae-Kwapong, says it is understandable for the Vice President and flagbearer of the governing NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to outline different policies he intends to implement should he be voted into power.

This, according to him, is because the various administrations of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have pursued different policies over the years, despite being from the same political party.

Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, August 24, Mr Osae-Kwapong explained that while the core principles and ideas of the NPP may have remained consistent, each government has implemented distinct policies.

He said that although Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is currently the Vice President and part of the administration responsible for the existing policies, they were enacted under President Akufo-Addo's tenure.

Mr Osae-Kwapong further explained that as the NPP’s flagbearer, Dr Bawumia may have a different approach to policy implementation, even though he is part of the same party.

“It is the NPP’s manifesto that will be implemented under a Bawumia presidency so I don’t necessarily expect that all of the things under an Akufo-Addo presidency will repeat itself under a Bawumia presidency,” he said.

The CDD-Ghana Fellow argued that Dr Bawumia has been in a challenging position regarding some policy implementations.

He emphasised that the Vice President cannot implement those policies because it is not his presidency, but noted that if he sees some of those policies differently, he may have a different approach to them.

“He’s the Vice President. I know that the narrative has come up that, 'well, you are Vice President and part of the government - why don’t you do all of these things'? Realistically, it’s not his administration.

“Yes, he has a voice, he can give an input but it is not his presidency and so even if he wants some things done, ultimately he can't do it,” Mr Osae-Kwapong explained.

He stated that it is President Akufo-Addo’s administration that sets the priorities and while Dr Bawumia may disagree with some ideas, he can only implement his ideas fully under his administration.

“An Akufo-Addo presidency has a different set of policy priorities than a Bawumia presidency would have. I’m sure there would be some policy continuity like Free SHS but he also wants to implement some of his own ideas,” he added.