By Kwadwo Kyei

The Majority Leader of Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Suame Constituency, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has said it will be disingenuous of anybody to blame Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for Ghana’s economic hardship.

Speaking in an interview on Kumasi-based Otech FM last Friday, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, said since every final decision concerning the Ghanaian economy is made by President Akufo-Addo, Vice-President Dr. Bawumia cannot be held responsible for the economic downturns in the country.

He said in accordance with Article 58 of the 1992 Constitution, all executive power is given to the President of Ghana, hence his vice becomes an advisor to him.

He added that apart from the available structures, the President has other advisors in addition to his vice. Therefore, he is not under compulsion to accept and implement every idea proposed by the Economic Management Team (EMT) headed by his vice.

“In Cabinet, there is also a finance committee that does due diligence on financial matters. Alan Kyeremanten was the chairman of the finance committee of the Akufo-Addo government.

“Nobody blamed Alan for our economic challenge because the finance committee is also an advisory committee. The final decision is always taken by the President,” he explained.

Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia

Hon.Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu

The Majority Leader asserted that he couldn’t fathom why many people are castigating Dr. Bawumia for being responsible for Ghana’s economic downturns when the same people didn’t blame former President John Mahama and Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur for our economic woes when they were vice-presidents who also headed the EMT.

However, he admitted that President Akufo-Addo had accepted one or more ideas proposed by Vice-President Dr. Bawumia, citing the Gold for Oil decision as a classic example. According to him, the decision has reduced the pressure on the dollar, thereby stabilising the depreciation of the cedi in recent times.

Besides, the Suame MP, who happens to be the longest-serving MP in Ghana, commended Dr. Bawumia for his digitalisation concept which has helped to increase Ghana’s domestic revenue.

He concluded that based on the foregoing, Dr. Bawumia is the best person to push Ghana forward in terms of economic transformation.