Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has mocked the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) over what he described as its failure to fulfil campaign promises, saying the internet has made it easier for Ghanaians to hold politicians accountable.

Speaking at the NPP’s National Thanksgiving Service at the Church of Pentecost in Sunyani, Dr Bawumia said campaign promises were increasingly difficult for politicians to deny because their past statements, interviews and campaign materials remained accessible online.

“Promises made to win power must be promises we can keep, because time tests every promise. Today, we have something we call [the internet meme] ‘a few moments later’. Whatever you say, it is saved on the internet, so when you come and you fail to honour what you promised to do, your own words will be played back to you,” he said.

“The NDC said so many things, and today, ‘omo akyi gu ho’ — they have been exposed,” he added, drawing loud cheers from the congregation.

The expression, which suggests that someone has been exposed or caught out, formed part of Dr Bawumia’s criticism of the government’s record on its campaign commitments.

He said old campaign videos, posters and interviews circulating online had become tools for scrutinising politicians and reminding the public of promises that remained unfulfilled.

Bawumia lists alleged unfulfilled promises

Dr Bawumia cited several commitments he accused the NDC government of failing to honour, including a proposed cocoa price of GH¢6,000 per bag, improved prices for cashew farmers, automatic teacher postings and the cancellation of the double-track system under the Free Senior High School programme.

He also questioned the government's commitments to abolish the teacher licensure examination, end illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, within one month and complete projects under the Agenda 111 hospital initiative.

According to him, farmers producing soybeans, rice and maize, alongside teachers, nurses and doctors, had also been let down by the government.

“They told soybean, rice and maize farmers many things; they have all been deceived. Teachers too, the same. Same with nurses and doctors,” he said.

On the government's flagship 24-hour economy policy, Dr Bawumia argued that the initiative had yet to deliver the promised results.

“They said they were bringing 24-hour economy. We have been waiting for nearly two years to see it, but it has not happened. They themselves don't understand it, so how can they explain it to us? It was campaign propaganda to deceive Ghanaians,” he alleged.

He further accused the government of failing to curb galamsey, claiming that the environmental menace had worsened under its watch.

“Galamsey is even worse. Maybe when they mentioned 1:3:3 they meant galamsey because galamsey has now more than tripled. Dr Sam Jonah said our river bodies now look like chocolate milk,” he said.

‘A tale of two economies’

Dr Bawumia also reiterated his criticism of the government's economic management, describing Ghana's economic situation as a tale of two economies: a “paper economy” and a “pocket economy”.

He explained that while the government pointed to declining inflation and improvements in the exchange rate as signs of economic recovery, many Ghanaians continued to struggle with the cost of living.

“You cannot have a stable economy with people suffering. Electricity bills, water bills, petrol and transport fares have all gone up. Traders are complaining because people are not buying their goods,” he said.

The former Vice President maintained that economic stability must translate into tangible improvements in people's lives, rather than remain confined to official economic indicators.

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Looking ahead to the 2028 general election, Dr Bawumia said the NPP would focus on policies that were practical, achievable and supported by detailed costing.

He said the party would avoid making promises it could not fulfil.

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“We are not going to promise Ghanaians what we cannot do,” he said, adding that the party would present “costed ideas, practical ideas, workable ideas”.

Raises concerns over freedom of expression

Dr Bawumia also accused the government of suppressing freedom of expression, alleging that people who criticised the government on radio and social media faced the threat of arrest.

“When people complain on radio and on the internet, they will come and arrest you. We are in an era of arrests,” he said.

His comments formed part of a broader criticism of the government's performance and its handling of public concerns.

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