Opinions of Saturday, 21 November 2015

Columnist: Kusi, Duncan

Is Ghana president speaking out of frustration?

Recently, President Mahama has been speaking like an ordinary man in the country why? Is it out of frustration or what?

Under normal circumstances, every head of state should accept criticisms. The president's attack on Dr Bawumia means a lot to every educated elite who would not consider it as a political problem but out of frustration.

The President asked Dr Bawumia on what he knew about Presidency since he was far from it.

. Even as a layman, I know more about Ghana's presidency so what about Dr Bawumia who is a running mate for the strongest and largest opposition party in the country?

One of things I know about Ghana's presidency is that the minimum educational level the country's constitution accepts for one to become a president is the secondary school certificate or SHS certificate.

Dr Bawumia is like President Mahama when he was a running mate of Professor Mills but criticized President Kufuor on kayaye and dumsor problems when he was far away from the presidency.

Dr Bawumia is a Professional Banker and knows banking laws. One of the Banking laws is that a huge amount of money like US$3 million dollars should not be loaded in a chartered plane to cross the country's borders without using the right channel for international money transfer.

Traditionally, such amount of money has to be transferred via international banking system which is globally accepted as the best practice.

There are many advantages the country enjoys when money is transferred from one country to another through international banking mechanism.

There are also disadvantages when such whopping amount of money is carried out of the country without applying the laid down principles for international money transfer.

As a PhD holder in Economics, Dr Bawumia's valuable knowledge would have been meaningless if he had kept quiet on all what is going on the country including, excess borrowing, depreciation of the Cedi against foreign currencies, high cost of living, high interest rate on Ghana loans, high level of unemployment among the youth and our graduates.

As a PhD holder, he has what it takes to lecture everyone whose education is not at the same level like him.

Such a person who can lecture his students can also evaluate their performances to know how competent they are and advises them on the right way to choose.

I do not see the reason why President Mahama should not be enthused with a Lecturer who has evaluated his performance to know his weaknesses and advising him on the right way to choose.

Dr Bawumia deserves to be praised but not to attack because he has done the work professionally so the President should take advantage of that and correct the distortions.