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NPP Presidential primaries: 4 candidates seek to lead the NPP in 2024 election | The Big Stories
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NewsTranscript
00:00:00 A very good morning to you. Thank you for joining the conversation here on the AM
00:00:05 show and we start with our big stories with a focus on what we're expecting
00:00:10 anticipating ahead of November the 4th. Of course your election headquarters
00:00:14 will be bringing you the scoop between now and that day with every teeny weeny
00:00:19 bit of detail. How will the presidential primary of the MPP pan out and those who
00:00:26 are contesting the four, the big four if you like, who remain. How will the voting
00:00:34 patterns be shaped on D-Day? Well we've got some surveys that have come out, one
00:00:41 leaning in that direction, the other leaning in a certain extreme direction.
00:00:46 But we'll be finding out what exactly these two camps and of the four we're
00:00:50 focusing on two of the camps this morning. The Baumya camp and the Dr. Akutu
00:00:56 the Dr. Baumya camp and the Dr. Akutu camp. Well joining us in the studio
00:01:00 later we'll hear from the the Afri Akutu camp. Joining us in the studio
00:01:04 Dennis Miracles Abwaje, he is member of Dr. Baumya's campaign team. Good morning.
00:01:09 Morning. How we doing? We're well. Great. Under the circumstances. It is well. It is well eh?
00:01:16 Definitely, why not? Okay, okay, okay. All right so Miracles, I hope you're bringing
00:01:22 Miracles into the studio today because I'm sure we need some of those miracles
00:01:27 in our economic life, in many facets of our national lives. But let's start
00:01:33 with the Baumya campaign. Why Baumya for you? Well first of all as a member of the new patriotic party, the
00:01:43 preoccupation of the party is to win every election. That's our job, that's why we
00:01:47 exist. Of any party? Yes, of any party. Of any political party. And so at all times
00:01:52 when you have an election coming up you would want to base your decision on what
00:01:58 would enhance your chances of winning the elections. And in our party today, Dr.
00:02:04 Mahmoud Baumya presents us with the brightest chance in winning the 2024
00:02:11 elections. So that's the first point. As a Ghanaian, I believe that based on
00:02:18 precedence and what we've experienced in the past, we need a leader going into
00:02:24 the future, a leader that has the capacity to protect our gains and then
00:02:29 one that exudes hope and gives assurance that what is left to be done would be
00:02:36 done. I see that in Dr. Mahmoud Baumya as well. So those are the two reasons why I
00:02:40 am very convinced that Dr. Mahmoud Baumya is the right person for us. All right, so
00:02:46 it's interesting how you've painted the picture. You say he stands the highest
00:02:50 chance of, you know, getting your party, securing electoral fortunes for your
00:02:56 party and then you talk about protecting gains as well. But some also say that Dr.
00:03:05 Baumya comes with the greatest baggage of all the four and they would cite the
00:03:10 likes of Kennedy and Japone and say, look, while he may have his own demons, so to
00:03:17 speak, in terms of leadership, he's been a member of Parliament, that's it. He's
00:03:23 never been in cabinet, he's never, you know, been in any poll position in this
00:03:26 country and so you can cut him some slack. But the flack belongs to
00:03:34 Dr. Baumya because he was given to us as the economic whiskey. Do you remember the
00:03:37 lectures? I remember one of them, town was chock-a-block because people were
00:03:42 coming to the National Theatre to come and listen to the person who had all the
00:03:46 solutions to our problems, economically speaking. In fact, I remember Ekufu Ado,
00:03:51 you know, making mention of the fact that if we ask him,
00:03:56 economics, if we ask Dr. Baumya, but look at where we are, look at where
00:04:02 inflation is. Now we're even struggling to get inflation, tame inflation to the
00:04:06 30s in terms of percentage by close of year. In terms of the exchange rate, the
00:04:13 pound has hovered around 15 plus, the dollar around 11 plus. I would say it's
00:04:18 still much lower than the 16 the dollar hit, but what has that done for business?
00:04:23 Then you look at taxes, taxes upon taxes. The vice president, before he came
00:04:28 in, he said we would move from taxation to production. Now we still have COVID-19
00:04:32 levy on our books. If you read Economy Times, Guta and others are saying, look,
00:04:37 as you prepare the 2020 for budget, we want to see some tax reforms among
00:04:44 others. How do you respond to all of this baggage? Well, I mean, first of all, every
00:04:51 industry has its own rules and dynamics, and in politics, there's no politician
00:04:55 without baggage. Every politician, you have your own thoughts, you have your
00:04:58 strengths, weaknesses, your threats as well. What you do is to weigh them and see how
00:05:03 it balances out in your favor. I mean, Dr. Mahmoud Bouamia
00:05:08 comparatively has less baggage than our competitors. I mean, than whom?
00:05:13 Our competitors. Dr. Friyia Akoto? No, than John Mahama. He's ex-president.
00:05:16 Francis Adayin Umu? Than John Mahama. How so? He's our competitor. I mean, he has been
00:05:20 president. Dr. Bouamia has never been president. Wait, wait, wait.
00:05:24 Relax. Let's slow down. I mean, I listen to you. He's been vice president. He has not been
00:05:28 president. I mean, I'm choosing my context. He's been vice president. I am choosing
00:05:32 my context. You can choose yours. Dr. Mahmoud Bouamia has not been president.
00:05:36 He's vying to be president. Being a president is not the same as being a
00:05:41 vice president. You can rate him as vice president. You can compare him as vice
00:05:47 president, but you cannot try or attempt or pretend to try and compare a vice
00:05:52 president to a president. They are not the same. Now, back to my point I was
00:05:56 making. Once we are going into the election, what you are going to do is to
00:06:01 run a swat of all those who are going to run the elections. And then you wish. You
00:06:05 are going to put the records on a weighing scale. Definitely. Definitely.
00:06:10 There are challenges. There is no leader that has a completely foolproof
00:06:14 leadership without challenges. But the biggest difference between Dr. Mahmoud
00:06:19 Bouamia and any other person that is vying to be president in this country is
00:06:24 that he is a leader that sincerely acknowledges and embraces the challenges
00:06:30 and then finds ways and means to mobilize the people, providing clear
00:06:35 pathway in getting us out of the challenges. Recently, in 2022, we had an
00:06:41 abnormal experience in our economy. I mean, as of January last year, the dollar was
00:06:45 moving around 5.6 percent, 5.6 it is there about. And then, between January and
00:06:51 November, it went all the way to close to 17. Completely abnormal. It's unusual. It
00:06:56 doesn't happen. So something might have happened. What caused that abnormality? Of course, it is the
00:06:59 Russian-Ukraine war. It's a fact. And the fact is, yes, it's a fact. Have you considered what
00:07:04 other countries have experienced, even here in Africa, in terms of the losses
00:07:09 their currency? Do you realize what you're saying? At the point in time, our
00:07:12 currency was the worst. It doesn't matter. If you let me explain, I'll tell you. So, if
00:07:15 you're, if you are, I'm not even going to compare us to countries of the West or
00:07:19 anything. That would be an unfair comparison. Right here in Africa, other
00:07:22 countries were facing the same perils that we were facing. They didn't get to
00:07:26 the point that we were facing. The structures aren't the same. And I'll explain to you. Which countries are you comparing us to? Give me one
00:07:30 country. Let me run the analysis for you. Kenya. Kenya. Yes. Rwanda. So, let me tell you
00:07:35 something. Today, all the challenges we are experiencing, Kenya is experiencing the same.
00:07:39 At what level? It doesn't matter. At what level? No, it does matter. No, it doesn't. Do you remember when the Vice President...
00:07:44 Do you remember when the Vice President... I will let you land. You've raised the point.
00:07:49 You've raised the point. Let me also... Let me also... Let me finish. Do you remember when the Vice President spoke about the fact that in
00:07:56 former times, we couldn't have certain things flying over all countries and
00:08:00 hitting Ghana alone. I could paint... Let me go back and explain to you the basis.
00:08:03 Because you don't let me explain that there's no point. Go ahead. The chair you are seated on. Okay, when we're
00:08:08 coming to office, we indicate clearly that the structure of the economy is
00:08:11 challenging. And that this is an economy that is highly dependent on imports. And
00:08:16 so we have to restructure the economy by moving us towards industrialization,
00:08:21 production. Now, that is a process that is ongoing. It's an act in progress. And so
00:08:28 you'd realize that today, government has a deliberate program that is geared
00:08:32 towards engineering private sector to boost our industries. Look at what is
00:08:36 happening in the automobile sector. If not for anything at all, you can point to a
00:08:40 deliberate program that has given close to over a hundred factories that are in
00:08:44 operation. Be as... I don't even want to go into that conversation because... You see...
00:08:48 We've done the analysis... And then what happened? And then there was no factory?
00:08:53 There's no production? I am surprised you're even asking that. No, there's no factory. There's no
00:08:56 production. Are you referring to 1D1F? Yes. Do you know how many places we've been?
00:09:00 It doesn't matter how many. But there are. But what kind of argument are you making? The argument you are making is what...
00:09:04 What kind of argument are you making? You see, David, if we've been to many factories,
00:09:08 especially agriculture, watermelon, rice, and others, and we only see mice...
00:09:12 It doesn't matter. I am telling you that... What are you trying to say? I am telling you that if we had moved from a zero to a 50, it doesn't mean that we haven't made progress. That's what you need to hear. That's what you need to listen to.
00:09:22 Consistently, there's attempts to try to make it look like it's non-existent. It's wrong.
00:09:28 But if in some instances, it is non-existent... But in some instances... What does that point to? What picture does that paint?
00:09:33 It paints the race. And in those instances, no one has condemned it. No one has condemned the door.
00:09:39 So what are you talking about? No, but I think you are missing a fundamental point. You are missing the point. Let me tell you. Can you let me flow?
00:09:46 You promised 100% and you are delivering at a certain level using taxpayers' money. Are you saying we don't have the right...
00:09:54 Wait, 1D1F. Relax. What is it? 1D1F. What is it? 1D1F. What are you using to run 1D1F?
00:09:59 Let me make the point. What are you using to run 1D1F? Let me make the point that we can make... Miracles. What are you using to run 1D1F? Calm down.
00:10:05 You have a country that needs to move towards industrialization. Now, a government comes in place, puts a program in place,
00:10:12 and then the government has delivered over 100 factories. Then you claim that because you have identified that out of the 100 factories,
00:10:20 about 20 of them are struggling. So it negates the 80 that are in existence. It's not struggling. It's non-existent. Exactly. So it negates the 80 that are in existence.
00:10:28 I think... It's not the argument you are making. You are missing the point. You are missing the point.
00:10:31 So let me clarify. Can I clarify my point since you are distorting things? No, you are distorting. You are trying to distort the facts.
00:10:39 Okay. Miracles. You claim you are going to give, let's say, 100 factories with taxpayers' money. You deliver 50 or 70.
00:10:48 There's a gap of 30. Are we, as citizens, do we not have the right to criticize the fact that you've used our taxpayers' money
00:10:56 and 30 of these, maybe you've even put up an edifice that is dormant, that has become overrun with weeds, no production going on?
00:11:05 Do we not have the right to challenge you on that? The dishonesty is in the challenge because when you are challenging,
00:11:10 you, your job is to tell the people that it's about 100... We've done that time without number.
00:11:15 What if you don't let me speak? We've done that time without number. If you don't let me speak, we can't make progress.
00:11:19 Because if I said every 10 seconds, I interrupt with one minute. How do we talk? Well, if you say something that actually has or requires...
00:11:24 Let me finish, then you can come back. Because you see, right now, because of the unnecessary interjections, we've moved on from...
00:11:30 Go ahead, miracles. I am telling you that this government has put in place a program that is seeking to industrialize this country.
00:11:37 And as we speak, there are factories in my municipality. In my municipality, there are at least three.
00:11:43 Shoe fabric. Shoe fabric in the Kropong. Miracles. Yes, shoe fabric in the Kropong.
00:11:50 There is Ritchie Plantations in Akwesasne, in Adosu. Now, these are factories...
00:11:55 Shoe fabric. Please, please go over them again. Shoe fabric. Shoe fabric.
00:11:58 These are organizations... Imagine another one. Ritchie Plantations. These are organizations that in my area, either two did not exist.
00:12:06 So, even though for anything at all, even if we are producing 1% of the need of that particular produce that they are making, it is an intervention.
00:12:15 What we do is to strengthen such a program to boost it and bring it up.
00:12:20 But let me quickly come back to the point I was making before you distracted me. The chair you sit on, it is most likely it was imported from Turkey.
00:12:28 Very, very most likely it was imported from Turkey. Turkey is one of the worst-hit countries in terms of Russian-Ukrainian war.
00:12:35 Their inflation went all the way at some point to about 80%.
00:12:39 Today, if you import this chair from Turkey at $100 to Ghana, and you come and sell it at $120, if you go back again and take its inflation, as it went up to about 80%,
00:12:51 it means that it would have moved from $100 to $180. If you bring that same chair back to Ghana, that same chair would now cost over $200.
00:12:59 That would mean that you require a certain additional $80 to get from Ghana and send out there before you can buy the chair.
00:13:07 So the impact of Russian-Ukrainian war in our economy cannot be discounted.
00:13:13 In as much as you try to tilt, skew, and cover it up, it cannot be discounted.
00:13:21 So how do you... Thank you for making that point, which I do not see to be factual anyway.
00:13:26 Well, you are making that... Which one of them is not factual?
00:13:29 You are saying that... Isn't it a fact that Turkey's inflation went all the way to 80%?
00:13:33 Isn't it a fact that UK and Russia has affected Turkey's economy?
00:13:39 You don't want me to intervene? No, you said it wasn't factual, but isn't it a fact?
00:13:42 I'll explain to you. Go ahead.
00:13:44 Now, our inflation has gone over 50% within this 10 years.
00:13:51 In over 20 years, even close to three decades. We've not seen anything like this.
00:13:58 You want to make the comparison. I've heard some of you talk about the United States and the fact that they've hit 8% and the likes.
00:14:05 They are not the same. The economies are very different.
00:14:08 And what that may mean there is not the same as it may mean here.
00:14:12 You see what your problem is? What your problem is that you choose and pick what you see.
00:14:16 Here you are saying that the economies are the same.
00:14:18 But when I told you that the economies are the same, you disagree.
00:14:21 You're not allowed to make my point as well, and I interject when you are making your point. Do not raise the issue.
00:14:24 The level of distortion is amazing.
00:14:27 Is it true that the Russia-Ukraine war hit every country, including Ukraine itself?
00:14:35 Yes, yes, yes, yes. Ukraine itself.
00:14:38 And yet even our inflation was higher than theirs.
00:14:42 Is it true that you...
00:14:43 The country itself that was battling...
00:14:45 No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You asked me a question. Let me make the point.
00:14:48 Let me make the point. The country itself that was hit by Russia.
00:14:52 We were struggling more than that country. How does that make any sense?
00:14:55 Let me show you how poor your economy is.
00:14:57 Let me show you how poor your economy is.
00:14:59 Let me show you how poor your economy is.
00:15:01 And there are other countries right here in Africa who were also hit.
00:15:05 Let me show you how poor your economy is.
00:15:07 Let me make my point. Who were also hit with all of this thing that you are saying.
00:15:11 You are taking it as a show. Then you should have interviewed yourself.
00:15:13 It is my show.
00:15:15 You should have interviewed yourself.
00:15:17 The Zambias, the Kenyans, the Rwandans and others all went through the very same things you people are talking about.
00:15:23 Yet you keep telling us that in some way we were so battered by the Russo-Ukrainian war that it was unprecedented.
00:15:31 I think if you didn't want our perspective, you should have had the monologue.
00:15:33 I think if you didn't want our perspective, you should have had the monologue.
00:15:35 That's why we invited you here. That it was unprecedented.
00:15:37 How can you even say that?
00:15:39 I think if you didn't want our perspective, you should have had the monologue.
00:15:41 Miracles, go ahead.
00:15:43 Let me tell you something. Let me show you how poor your economy is.
00:15:45 Since you are the chief economist, from the start of the economic wisp, it has left us where we are.
00:15:51 If you try to compare Ukraine, the fact that they have a war, and for which reason they are inflating, the point is that Ukraine...
00:15:57 The fact that they have a war, they were not even able to supply grain, they were blocked.
00:16:02 What did that do to their economy?
00:16:04 But if they are able to utilise the grain within their economy, they may not suffer the inflation we would suffer.
00:16:09 Are you aware of what it means to Ukraine's economy?
00:16:15 It is also common sense, miracles,
00:16:18 that if they are not able to make the exports, that runs their economy.
00:16:25 Interview yourself.
00:16:26 What does that mean for them?
00:16:28 The point is that they are making...
00:16:30 That is your view, so let me express my view.
00:16:32 Even if you disagree, but if you continue to interject with it, there is no interview.
00:16:34 You need to understand that.
00:16:36 Then you should have had the monologue.
00:16:38 Shouldn't you? You disagree with me, but let me make my point.
00:16:41 Because what you are saying, I disagree with you, but I let you finish.
00:16:45 You didn't let me finish, but you go ahead.
00:16:47 You make a very erroneous analysis that because Ukraine has a wall,
00:16:52 their inflation should be out of the roof.
00:16:56 And I'm telling you that a lot of the things that are affecting us as a result of the Ukraine-Russian wall
00:17:01 is because of our import dependency on them.
00:17:04 What it means is that if they are able to utilise the things that they are producing within their country,
00:17:09 they are not likely to suffer that kind of inflation.
00:17:12 That is just street economics.
00:17:14 Because we are suffering the inflation because we are not getting it at the price that we are getting it here.
00:17:19 And so once it comes back into our country, it's going to be hiked.
00:17:22 They are producing it within their country.
00:17:24 They are utilising it within their country.
00:17:26 And so you do not make that analysis. It doesn't add up.
00:17:29 It does not add up.
00:17:31 If you make the analysis, it does not add up.
00:17:33 Let me draw your attention quickly. Nothing is happening in the world.
00:17:35 All countries are doing well.
00:17:37 You talk about a 20-year-old inflation.
00:17:39 UK, US, they experience a 50-year-old inflationary hike.
00:17:43 How about that?
00:17:44 A 40-year-old inflationary hike.
00:17:47 How about that? Nothing is happening.
00:17:49 The superpowers, they experience it.
00:17:51 You need to stop misleading the public.
00:17:54 Misleading for you?
00:17:56 No, no, but you see, you created an impression as if nothing is happening.
00:17:59 And Ghana has had 20-year-high inflation.
00:18:02 At what point did they see that nothing was happening?
00:18:04 At what point did they see that nothing was happening?
00:18:06 I am telling you that countries across the world
00:18:09 have experienced something that has never happened in the last 120 years
00:18:13 as a result of the global pandemic.
00:18:15 And that is why US, Ukraine, Germany,
00:18:18 superpower countries have suffered the consequences of this same war.
00:18:23 And so, in as much as we, probably in our context,
00:18:27 might have experienced this at a higher level,
00:18:30 it does not change the fact that the impact we are suffering now
00:18:34 is as a result of the UK-Russian war.
00:18:36 That doesn't change it.
00:18:38 It doesn't change it.
00:18:39 And then you talk about it and you do not introduce it.
00:18:41 Let me ask you, if I may.
00:18:44 Can I come in now?
00:18:45 Sure, sure, you can.
00:18:46 Okay, alright.
00:18:47 What percentage of what we are facing
00:18:50 will you attribute to the Russo-Ukrainian war?
00:18:53 Especially when, all the way from around 2019,
00:18:57 the writing was on the wall.
00:19:00 Economists, CSOs started talking to you about your borrowing.
00:19:03 Global outfits started warning you about your borrowing.
00:19:07 Excessive borrowing.
00:19:08 Today we are talking about the fact that Fitch is telling us by close of year,
00:19:12 where is that paper?
00:19:13 I think I have to look.
00:19:14 Yes.
00:19:15 By close of year, our debt to GDP will be 99%.
00:19:22 What happened?
00:19:23 Let me tell you again.
00:19:24 What happened around that time when they were pointing to all of these things?
00:19:28 Again, are you aware?
00:19:30 What amount of the debt do we attribute to Russia?
00:19:32 Are you aware that about 40% of our debt
00:19:34 is as a result of exchange rate differentials?
00:19:36 40%.
00:19:37 And you know why?
00:19:38 Because our debt is largely in dollar.
00:19:42 And so if you had that kind of impact that you've had,
00:19:45 if you have your exchange rate moving from five cities
00:19:48 all the way to about 16 now to about 11 cities, doubling,
00:19:52 then you should expect what you are seeing.
00:19:53 What it means is that it is not the borrowing that has brought us here.
00:19:56 It is the same impact.
00:19:58 The same impact.
00:19:59 Because 40% of our debt is as a result of exchange rate differentials.
00:20:04 And so once you are able to agree on the exchange rate differential components,
00:20:09 then you understand why, even though we borrowed,
00:20:12 we would not have been here but for that same challenge.
00:20:15 But for that same challenge, why don't you tell your viewers that?
00:20:18 Why don't you talk about that?
00:20:20 Before Russia and Ukraine hit,
00:20:22 and then if you look at currently at our debt stock,
00:20:25 what has been added onto it,
00:20:27 more than all the administrations since independence put together,
00:20:32 40% of that same debt.
00:20:34 How does that add up for you?
00:20:37 I've just told you that 40% of that debt is not money we borrowed.
00:20:40 Our debt is about $600 billion.
00:20:42 40% of that debt is not money we borrowed.
00:20:44 You've added about $450 billion.
00:20:45 40%, about half of that money is not money we borrowed.
00:20:47 All right, so let's do this. Let's do the math.
00:20:49 About half of that money is not money we borrowed.
00:20:51 Let's say almost $500 billion, but let's say about $450 billion.
00:20:55 Okay? Let's do the math.
00:20:59 So, 40.
00:21:06 Here we go.
00:21:07 So, let's even take out the $180 billion from it.
00:21:11 You're still left with $270 billion,
00:21:19 which is still more than many administrations.
00:21:22 In fact, probably all administrations, if I'm looking at this figure,
00:21:25 put together in this fourth reform.
00:21:27 Because we have those more--
00:21:29 In this fourth reform.
00:21:30 Yes, yes, yes. We have provided more infrastructure in senior high school
00:21:32 than all administrations.
00:21:33 We have provided more support to private sector to go into industrialization
00:21:37 than all administrations.
00:21:38 We have invested more in health infrastructure than all administrations.
00:21:42 We have invested more in road infrastructure than all administrations.
00:21:46 That justifies it.
00:21:49 I see.
00:21:50 So, when you look at education, you've been touting--
00:21:53 You've done better.
00:21:54 You've done better, but to what quotient that will justify this?
00:21:56 Are you aware that--
00:21:58 Are you aware of the problems with free SHS?
00:22:00 Yes.
00:22:01 Are you aware of the problems?
00:22:02 Yes, and those problems existed.
00:22:03 Sometimes you're not even able to feed the kids.
00:22:04 Are you aware that when we rolled out free senior high school,
00:22:08 enrollment doubled. Are you aware?
00:22:10 And as a result of that--
00:22:11 You're looking merely at numbers.
00:22:12 And as a result of that, the children could not even find places to sleep.
00:22:15 Are you aware that--
00:22:16 You're looking merely at numbers.
00:22:17 Of course. Why not?
00:22:18 You're looking merely at numbers.
00:22:19 Access is number one. Access.
00:22:20 How about quality?
00:22:21 Access is first.
00:22:22 How about quality?
00:22:23 Access is first.
00:22:24 Quality reflects in the resource.
00:22:25 Have you seen the resource?
00:22:26 Quality reflects in the performance.
00:22:28 Have you seen the resource?
00:22:29 How are you measuring it?
00:22:30 Are you looking at--
00:22:31 Isn't that the output?
00:22:32 Are you also considering the teacher to student ratios?
00:22:36 The percentages in terms of time.
00:22:38 No, I'm referring to the same thing.
00:22:40 I'm talking about quality.
00:22:41 I'm talking about quality.
00:22:42 Quality will reflect--
00:22:43 And you're referring to when you give students past questions--
00:22:46 Quality will reflect--
00:22:47 To go and prepare for exams, and that is it.
00:22:48 You didn't have past questions.
00:22:49 That's good for you.
00:22:50 You didn't have past questions.
00:22:51 Let me tell you--
00:22:52 Hasn't past questions been part of exams preparation?
00:22:53 Do you even know when I left--
00:22:54 No, relax.
00:22:55 I left secondary school.
00:22:56 Past questions--
00:22:57 Anyway.
00:22:58 Hasn't past questions always been part of exams preparations?
00:22:59 You can't answer that.
00:23:00 Here's what I'll tell you.
00:23:01 You cannot answer that one.
00:23:02 Past questions.
00:23:03 If the students--
00:23:04 Which exams candidates--
00:23:05 Miracle.
00:23:06 --prepares without past questions?
00:23:07 Miracles.
00:23:08 If the students are not getting the right time hours, and you provide them with past questions
00:23:14 at the last minute, and they pass through that, let me tell you how--
00:23:18 Let me tell you where it exists.
00:23:20 You are one of Ghana's--
00:23:21 Let me tell you where--
00:23:22 You are one of Ghana's--
00:23:23 --problems.
00:23:24 You are one of Ghana's solutions, right?
00:23:25 If we continue to--
00:23:26 You are one of Ghana's solutions, right?
00:23:27 --we're going to espouse such things on TV.
00:23:28 Let me tell you something.
00:23:29 Let me--
00:23:30 Let me--
00:23:31 No, no, you've made a point.
00:23:32 You will not continue talking.
00:23:33 Okay, finish.
00:23:34 Finish, and I'll come.
00:23:35 My colleagues who lecture in the universities, do you know what they tell me?
00:23:37 What do they tell you?
00:23:38 A lot of these students-- and I must just fall short of mentioning names-- across the
00:23:43 board, a lot of these students come, they can't even manage the English for teaching.
00:23:49 They need to be taught for about a month English.
00:23:51 You guys--
00:23:52 So, when we refer to quality, and you keep referencing quantity and miracles--
00:23:57 Your agenda is so poor that it's not even funny anymore.
00:24:01 Go and finish, and I'll come in.
00:24:03 Okay.
00:24:04 As you keep interjecting, when I interject, don't cry, because you are making--
00:24:08 You've been interjecting from scratch, so you don't have a problem.
00:24:10 In terms of the enrollments, they may have gone up, but the resources to contain these
00:24:16 enrollments, why did you have to run the double track and all of those systems?
00:24:20 Because you don't have the space for them.
00:24:22 There have been complaints about sleeping accommodation.
00:24:25 We have done so many stories, unless you've been oblivious to them.
00:24:28 Feeding has been problematic, and you are sitting here telling me that, oh, once the
00:24:32 numbers have ballooned, and for some period, they are passing, that nullifies everything.
00:24:40 How can you even think--
00:24:41 You are so clouded with your opinion--
00:24:43 Since you are not clouded, please explain to me.
00:24:46 See, let me tell you something.
00:24:47 The issue of performance first.
00:24:49 The only way-- It's not your view.
00:24:51 The only way you can measure the--
00:24:52 But it's your view.
00:24:53 No.
00:24:54 The only way you can measure the performance of a student is his resource in the examination.
00:24:59 The resource are on all time best in the last 10 to 15 years.
00:25:05 When you talk about performance, you just don't know what you are talking about, because
00:25:09 the resource are there.
00:25:10 We are not going to measure the output or the performance or the quality of the student's
00:25:13 education based on your sentiment and your views.
00:25:16 My sentiments?
00:25:17 Yes.
00:25:18 Have you looked at the breakdowns when it comes to English, the core subject?
00:25:20 Look at it.
00:25:21 Yes.
00:25:22 Have you taken a look at them?
00:25:23 Yes.
00:25:24 Open it now.
00:25:25 Have you seen the performance in some years versus other years?
00:25:26 It is better.
00:25:27 It is better.
00:25:28 Open it now.
00:25:29 It is better.
00:25:30 Open it now.
00:25:31 Share it.
00:25:32 Let your producer share it.
00:25:33 As though we didn't talk about these--
00:25:34 It is better.
00:25:35 It is better.
00:25:36 Share it.
00:25:37 It's improved.
00:25:38 Share it.
00:25:39 Go ahead.
00:25:40 Secondly, you talk about numbers.
00:25:41 When we rolled out free SHS, you'd realize that because the numbers were so huge, the
00:25:43 government realized that we have two options.
00:25:45 Either we leave the 100,000 children continuously that we leave on the street to be on the street,
00:25:50 or we take advantage of the gap that we have during the vacation and get all other children
00:25:57 enrolled.
00:25:58 Maybe you do not understand double track, but double track basically means that the
00:26:02 period within which the classrooms are empty, the period within which the other students
00:26:06 are on vacation, let another batch come to school and come and study.
00:26:09 Today, a lot of the schools, over 80% of the schools have phased out from double track.
00:26:14 Why?
00:26:15 Because the 240 million thereabout that you mentioned has been utilized to provide infrastructure
00:26:20 for these schools.
00:26:21 There is no secondary school-- Can you let me finish?
00:26:23 I thought you were ending.
00:26:24 Go ahead.
00:26:25 There is no secondary school in this country that hasn't received an intervention one way
00:26:29 or the other in terms of infrastructure from the government to ensure that the numbers
00:26:34 that they are getting will have places to sleep, classes to study in, and then dining halls
00:26:39 to eat in.
00:26:40 That is how you solve problems.
00:26:42 You don't solve problems by preventing other citizens in having access to what is basic
00:26:50 to everybody.
00:26:51 That is how you solve problems.
00:26:52 Are you done now?
00:26:53 Yes.
00:26:54 Two quick things.
00:26:55 The proportion of free SHS in terms of what we've been spending on it, the 1 point something
00:26:59 billion every now and then, versus the gargantuan debt we are facing, it's just a drop in the
00:27:04 bucket.
00:27:05 It doesn't matter.
00:27:06 Can we use-- Will you allow me?
00:27:07 You are the one who always want to be allowed to speak.
00:27:10 Relax.
00:27:11 It's a drop in the bucket compared to the overall cost.
00:27:16 Why should we even be having a discussion on this?
00:27:18 Because its contribution to the entire debt is minuscule.
00:27:22 Then again, we've gone to the IMF because supposedly we are broke.
00:27:28 We don't have the wherewithal.
00:27:30 We're a proud nation and all of that.
00:27:32 We've still gone to the IMF.
00:27:34 You look at the IMF and what it has said to us about free education, I'm sure you've followed
00:27:39 it, the World Bank, they've told us that we have challenges in there.
00:27:44 We ought to streamline, just for lack of having the exact wording, so I don't want to, we
00:27:50 have to streamline free SHS in terms of beneficiaries, yet we are still going down the same road.
00:27:57 Why?
00:27:58 So two questions, please.
00:27:59 I asked you two questions.
00:28:01 The component of free SHS spending in terms of the debt and what even the IMF has said.
00:28:07 I spoke about agriculture.
00:28:09 I spoke about health.
00:28:11 I spoke about the broad infrastructure, roads and what have you.
00:28:15 Free SHS was one of the things I mentioned.
00:28:18 We've had a conversation.
00:28:20 Let's focus on that.
00:28:22 When you have the time, you can compute.
00:28:24 If you tell me it's just a drop, you haven't said anything.
00:28:26 270 billion you've missed.
00:28:28 We've not spent, if you want to go down that road, we've not spent even over 20 billion
00:28:33 on free SHS.
00:28:34 You make life so difficult.
00:28:35 You say it's a drop, and I'm giving you the figure.
00:28:37 So now break it down for us.
00:28:38 I'm telling you that 270 billion was invested in several sectors which I mentioned.
00:28:42 True.
00:28:43 You decided to pick on free SHS for us to discuss.
00:28:45 We've been talking about it.
00:28:46 But you decided for us to discuss that, and we've gone through that.
00:28:51 So when you come back and say, so what are you asking me to tell you now?
00:28:55 What are you asking me to tell you?
00:28:56 You are touting it as this thing.
00:28:59 Do you know how many children?
00:29:01 Which justifies part of the 270 billion.
00:29:04 I'm just trying to tell you that.
00:29:05 It's only a drop in the bucket.
00:29:06 But there are others.
00:29:07 So go and pick the others and project all of them, then you can have that conversation.
00:29:10 What are you asking me to tell you now?
00:29:12 Isn't it a fact that over 100,000 children that were being left on the street every year
00:29:17 are now in the classroom?
00:29:18 And so if you say, oh, you're bullied, what do you use it for?
00:29:21 Roads, health, agric, industry, education.
00:29:25 And then you say free SHS is just small.
00:29:27 Go and pick the others.
00:29:28 And run them.
00:29:29 Run all of them.
00:29:30 Then you can have a complete conversation.
00:29:32 I'll come to the economy.
00:29:33 That's not withstanding.
00:29:34 Let's establish one fact today.
00:29:36 The fact is that free SHS has brought close to 100,000 children who are left on the street
00:29:41 consistently every year to the classroom.
00:29:43 Free SHS has provided the needed infrastructure for most of the senior high schools to be
00:29:48 able to hold their children.
00:29:49 And it continues to provide this infrastructure.
00:29:53 Free SHS is ensuring that children will have the needed quality education that they desire.
00:30:00 And it's reflecting in the resource.
00:30:02 The free senior high school students, most of them who are in third year or thereabouts
00:30:06 in the university, have churned out one of the best performing resource that this country
00:30:10 has seen in the last 10 or 15 years.
00:30:13 And we cannot, under any circumstance, discount it.
00:30:17 You may not be so happy it's doing well, but I'm sorry, that's your loss.
00:30:21 I may not be so happy it's doing well.
00:30:23 I think so.
00:30:24 Yeah, I think so.
00:30:25 Well, for someone who is in the studio for us to talk about the merits of a campaign
00:30:29 and everything, I find it surprising you would say that, but I'll leave you to your opinion.
00:30:32 Yeah, but that's your loss.
00:30:33 They are like noses.
00:30:34 Everybody has one.
00:30:36 I want us to look at the economy.
00:30:39 You've been talking about Dr. Bawumia and the economic management team that he heads.
00:30:47 But before we get into that, let me just cross over to my colleague Samuel Mbura.
00:30:51 He's standing by.
00:30:53 He is with the Bawumia camp, and he has some juicy tidbits for us ahead of November the 4th.
00:31:01 Samuel Mbura, if you can hear me, please go ahead.
00:31:04 Yeah, Benjamin, good morning.
00:31:11 We are reaching live from the Jubilee Park here in Bogatanga, the Upper East Regional capital.
00:31:16 Today, the vice president is firming up and actually concluding his campaign ahead of the November 4th Congress.
00:31:25 Yesterday, he was in his home region, the Northeast region, and had a rousing welcome.
00:31:30 We had all the delegates there confirming and then throwing their full support behind him.
00:31:38 He had big wigs also following his campaign team.
00:31:41 The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the MPP, Chairman Mawun Thumi, was there.
00:31:46 The Northern MPP caucus also declared their full support for Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia.
00:31:51 We know this is a critical or the pivotal part of the elections.
00:31:55 This is the last minute they have to convince these delegates to give their votes among the four.
00:32:02 We know that Bawumia has already been tipped as a forerunner for the elections.
00:32:09 There are projections that he is likely to win over 80 percent.
00:32:13 Regardless of that, he is still touching base with the electorates here.
00:32:17 Here in the Upper East Region, they have over 8,000 delegates that will be casting their ballots.
00:32:24 I'm fortunate to have with me the Regional Chairman of the MPP.
00:32:29 He is called Lawyer Anthony Nnamo for us to have the conversation.
00:32:33 If you sit behind me, you can see that they are preparing for him to come. In the next two hours, this rally will begin.
00:32:40 Thank you very much for joining us Chairman on Joy News Channel.
00:32:44 What do you make of the preparation so far ahead of the November 4th Congress?
00:32:48 Thank you very much. Preparation has been ongoing for weeks now for today's event.
00:32:55 And of course, for November, the Election Committee has also been preparing very hard.
00:33:01 As we speak now, we all know the venues where the elections will take place.
00:33:05 We have 15 venues in the region and all of them have been communicated to the constituencies.
00:33:11 And they all know their venue.
00:33:13 But of course, for today's program, it's for His Excellency, the Vice President, to clamor his campaign.
00:33:20 Already he has told 261 constituencies in the country and he says that he's going to do the clamors in the Upper East Region.
00:33:29 We are honored to be hosting him because to provide...
00:33:35 How critical is it for him to come and hold the final rally here?
00:33:39 This is a region, 15 constituencies, you have only one seat. What does that mean to you?
00:33:44 Yes, thank you. One seat is also important if you know what is happening in Parliament now.
00:33:50 So one seat used not to be seen as anything but it's very critical.
00:33:55 And I'm sure his coming and subsequent coming would also help us to prop us so that we can get more seats.
00:34:01 So the 2024 December 7th election is a process and of course this will be one of them.
00:34:09 You are a lawyer and I know you love to always protect your integrity.
00:34:14 There are allegations flying out there that you, the chairman, were giving some amounts and giving pick-ups as well.
00:34:20 Clarify, did you receive your share? Maybe I can get mine after here.
00:34:23 I can tell you without any fear of contradiction that there was no such amount given to anybody here.
00:34:29 And as a matter of fact, as far as the Vice President was concerned, he never sent any money to this region to give to anybody.
00:34:36 So I'm surprised. And the Vice President himself has debunked that allegation in the Northern Region.
00:34:43 And the chairman of constituencies, chairman across the country also issued a statement.
00:34:49 Debunking the state, whatever allegation was put out there, people were giving 100,000 and pick-ups.
00:34:55 So it's unfortunate that in an internal contest such as ours, people will not look at the issues.
00:35:02 Is it the fact that you, the chairman, are suppressing some of the aspirants from reaching out to the delegates?
00:35:07 And then rather working towards favouring the Vice President, Dr Mahmoud Bamiya?
00:35:12 That is unfortunate. If you look at when Kennedy came, he had his rally here for about three constituencies.
00:35:19 My executives who were available were all here with him.
00:35:23 So we communicated even to our constituencies that Kennedy was coming because he duly notified us that he was coming.
00:35:32 But of course, if a candidate is coming and he hasn't notified us, we will not be able to inform the people to come.
00:35:38 Let me put you on the spot on this. When I was in the North East Region, I was in the Northern Region.
00:35:43 All these regions have been communicated to that all the five Northern Regions have declared for Dr Mahmoud Bamiya.
00:35:49 Is that the situation in the Upper East Region?
00:35:51 I mean, if you look at the party, we delegates only represent a larger body.
00:35:57 And so if you live in the polling station and your members of the party in the polling station who are running to hundreds,
00:36:03 tell you that this is the direction we want you to go.
00:36:06 So delegates are instructed that this is the way you should go.
00:36:10 And so as far as I'm concerned, it is the polling station members who have told their five members that this is where we want our votes to go.
00:36:19 So it is not an instruction from coming from our...
00:36:22 What percentage are you projecting from your region? Are you giving him a hundred percent?
00:36:27 Well, what I can tell you that when we got 86 percent, our party members and the polling station were highly disappointed that we got 86 percent in the superdelegates.
00:36:35 And therefore, we, I mean, they are telling everybody, including themselves, that they are looking towards 100 percent.
00:36:43 Do you think the aspirants who have come to your region have conducted themselves so well?
00:36:47 Yes, so far, I mean, I cannot come, I mean, all the aspirants who came, they conducted themselves very well.
00:36:53 I mean, Kennedy was here and even though he mentioned the term showdown when he came here, it was very civil engagements.
00:37:01 Even in the Boko Zone, he appealed for peace and calm, and that was, I mean, we're happy that he has come to the zone where there is conflict.
00:37:10 And he managed to, I mean, also call for peace so that we can have development.
00:37:14 That is the kind of message that...
00:37:16 So as far as APAI is concerned, when Kennedy came, he did his part.
00:37:21 His message, he wasn't... apart from the allegation of a hundred thousand,
00:37:27 I'm sure most of our delegates here knew that it was far from the truth.
00:37:32 We didn't want to confront him like it happened in other areas.
00:37:36 We just took it on the light and a statement was issued.
00:37:39 Is everything set for your region for the elections on Saturday?
00:37:42 Yes, sure, everything is set because the election material, I'm sure they will communicate to us, you know, we are not handling it.
00:37:48 It's the Electoral Commission handling it.
00:37:50 And as soon as they arrive in their region, I'm sure we'll be informed.
00:37:54 And how they will distribute to the constituency will also be informed about them.
00:37:58 Okay, so Benjamin, that's the APAI regional chairman of the MPP, lawyer Anthony Namu.
00:38:03 He's serving his two years as chairman of the party.
00:38:05 He's a lawyer by his background as well.
00:38:08 You heard him talking about what they intend to deliver for Dr Mahmoud Baweme in the November 4th Congress.
00:38:14 They have over 8,000 delegates.
00:38:16 804 delegates. 8,104 delegates.
00:38:19 So that's 8,104.
00:38:20 The youth play a critical role and I have Salahuddin.
00:38:24 He is the regional youth organizer of the MPP in the Upper East Region.
00:38:28 Salahuddin, how is the youth prepared for this Congress?
00:38:31 Good morning, Samuele. Good morning to the listeners of Joy News.
00:38:34 I must say that the youth are well prepared.
00:38:36 For the past week, we've been here engaging them from constituency to constituency, engaging the youth in all the constituencies.
00:38:43 I can say for sure that all of them are rooting for the vice president.
00:38:47 We are not forcing them. We have engaged them.
00:38:50 They have given us their thinking.
00:38:52 They are seeing that this is the time for the vice president.
00:38:54 This is the time for Mahmoud Baweme to take leadership of the party.
00:38:58 Because they believe in him and they know that with him, we can break the 8 with him.
00:39:02 Are you doing this because he is a Nodna?
00:39:04 You are doing that because he is your brother?
00:39:06 Or you are doing this on the grounds that he is competent to lead the party, subsequently becoming the president of the country?
00:39:11 We are not doing it because he is a Nodna or he is your brother.
00:39:13 One thing that must be stated without any provocation is that this is the first ever vice president who has played a critical role in national policies.
00:39:22 We can talk of paperless port, we can talk of mobile interoperability, we can talk of the Ghana card.
00:39:27 A lot of policies that this man has led as vice president.
00:39:31 Ask yourself, he is just number 2 doing all these things.
00:39:34 If he gets the chance to lead the party and lead this country, what do you think he can do?
00:39:38 He will do far more than he did as vice president.
00:39:40 So we believe in him. He is very competent, he is very humble, he can do the job as a president.
00:39:45 Not because he is a Nodna.
00:39:46 Alright, Saladin, thank you very much. We are grateful.
00:39:48 I know Benjamin Thame is not by our side, but there is a situation here in Bogatanga, the Upper East Regional Capital.
00:39:54 We have 15 constituencies, but the MPP occupies only one seat.
00:39:59 That is the Binduri seat. The rest have been occupied by the NDC.
00:40:05 That reduction in number was witnessed in the 2020 election.
00:40:10 Initially they were having about 4 seats, but reduced to 1 there.
00:40:14 So that is it. All is set for the vice president to come and address the people of the Upper East Region.
00:40:20 So far as concluding and firming up his campaign tour is concerned.
00:40:25 But you heard from the chairman, you heard from the youth organiser, they are all rooting for Dr Mahmoud Bawamia.
00:40:30 Not because he is a tribesman, but because he is competent.
00:40:34 So if you don't have further questions, I will hand it over back to you Benjamin in Accra.
00:40:39 Thank you very much Samuel Mbura for bringing us the scoop ahead of that locking of horns on November 4th.
00:40:47 And we will be getting a bit into the surveys that have been conducted as of now.
00:40:52 But I have some messages coming through, miracles. Some of them I cannot read because they are in same degree.
00:40:59 But you let me take this one. Engineer Mahama sends in this one.
00:41:04 He says Cote d'Ivoire is doing under 10 percent inflation. That's our next door neighbour.
00:41:11 What is happening to the Akumfi factory after seven years? Is the sugarcane not maturing yet or has it not matured yet?
00:41:19 What has happened to Saglimi and the abandoned houses using money halfway and abandoning projects recklessly?
00:41:26 We read in our JHS Greek books way back in 1995 that the lack of combined harvesters was our bane in rice production.
00:41:35 And it's still relevant today. We still don't have it yet.
00:41:39 Miracle is saying 40 percent of our debt is as a result of the city's depreciation.
00:41:43 Do you have any answers to this before we move on with the conversation?
00:41:46 Have you asked how much Cote d'Ivoire inflation was in 2018, 2019? It was under one percent.
00:41:53 So they've gone to less than 10 percent. What was our inflation in 2018, 2019?
00:41:59 You ask me that thing and I start talking about the internet and the thing makes me mad.
00:42:03 Then you come and blow. Let me speak.
00:42:05 It's like right now your face makes this noise. You go ahead.
00:42:08 Because of the way you started the interview, let me implode.
00:42:12 You are saying that Cote d'Ivoire is 10 percent or 9 percent.
00:42:16 And you are saying that because we are at 40 percent.
00:42:20 And I'm telling you that if you want to compare countries in terms of inflation,
00:42:23 that's not how you do the comparison. You don't look at the nominal figures.
00:42:26 You look at the rates. I'm saying Cote d'Ivoire 2018 was about 0.62 percent from statistics.
00:42:34 0.62 percent. So if you want to really compare, then go and ask yourself
00:42:39 how much was Ghana's inflation in the same 2019 and how much it is now.
00:42:43 Then you can really understand the variance. But if you say Ghana is at 38 percent.
00:42:46 Make the comparison. Go ahead. You are making the comparison.
00:42:49 I can't do those computations now. But I'm just trying to draw your attention
00:42:53 that it's a poor way of running companies.
00:42:56 But you don't have the figures yet.
00:42:57 No, but I have. I have.
00:42:58 I'm saying do the comparative with Ghana's inflation.
00:43:01 I'm telling you that listen. Cote d'Ivoire's inflation, what you say is 9 percent.
00:43:04 How can you make the comparative when you are looking at only one side?
00:43:06 Make the comparison with Ghana. That's the comparative.
00:43:09 The point I'm making is this. If you want to compare countries in terms of inflation,
00:43:14 you don't go pick Cote d'Ivoire. So okay, then America's inflation is 6 percent.
00:43:17 Cote d'Ivoire is 9 percent. Do you really think the economies are the same?
00:43:20 We move from single digit inflation to 54 percent.
00:43:24 Let's finish this conversation. Let's finish this point I'm making.
00:43:27 Don't detour. America's inflation is at 6 percent. Cote d'Ivoire is at 9 percent.
00:43:33 Do you really think that the economies are the same?
00:43:36 But of course the economies are different. There are different scales.
00:43:38 Exactly. So that's the point I'm making.
00:43:41 So I'm saying there is a poor way of running a comparison between countries.
00:43:44 You're saying that the mere fact that because there are these disparities,
00:43:48 and it is common, it is trite knowledge, because every economy is different anyway.
00:43:52 The mere fact that, yes.
00:43:54 You are saying?
00:43:55 The mere fact that Ivory Coast's inflation is at 9 percent, Ghana's inflation is at 38 percent.
00:44:00 It doesn't mean that necessarily Ivory Coast is doing way better than Ghana.
00:44:03 Ivory Coast has seen its own share of economic crisis because they used to be under 1 percent,
00:44:08 and they are at 9 percent. That is a principle.
00:44:12 Let me even forget.
00:44:14 Okay, you go ahead.
00:44:16 I want to make a point about Togo.
00:44:21 Even Togo, right?
00:44:23 You keep jumping.
00:44:24 Next door neighbor.
00:44:25 But the principle is the same.
00:44:26 The principle is the same. Have you been to any of these countries?
00:44:29 Yes, I have.
00:44:30 Which ones?
00:44:31 Ivory Coast, about a month ago. The principle is the same.
00:44:33 What is the cost of living there? How do you find the fuel and everything?
00:44:35 How are you measuring it?
00:44:38 How do you measure the cost of living from one country to another country?
00:44:42 How do you measure that?
00:44:43 The point here is that I am saying that the principle is simple.
00:44:46 You do not run companies' comparison inflation on nominal figures.
00:44:50 Look at their rates.
00:44:52 They used to be under 0.62 percent. They are 9 percent.
00:44:55 Ask yourself why. What's happening to them?
00:44:57 How come?
00:44:58 Because if you look at the figures, 2004 all the way to 2019, they were under 1 percent.
00:45:06 All of a sudden, from 2020 to now, they have shot up.
00:45:10 And we moved from single digits to 54 percent.
00:45:13 So it tells you that something is happening in the global economy.
00:45:15 The same thing happened to them.
00:45:17 You are not following. And again, that is the problem.
00:45:19 The problem is that you deliberately try to ignore what is going on.
00:45:23 How am I ignoring when I am saying that the very things that happened to us happened to them?
00:45:28 So you are expecting Ivory Coast…
00:45:30 The time they were at 0.62 percent, our inflation was around 17 percent.
00:45:34 The time that they were at 0.62 percent…
00:45:38 If you look at the trajectory from 2017 to around 2020, where was our inflation?
00:45:47 I won't let you digress again.
00:45:49 Where was our inflation compared to then?
00:45:51 I won't let you digress again.
00:45:53 In 2016, when our inflation was at 17 percent, Ivory Coast was under 1 percent.
00:45:59 But you took over.
00:46:00 I am only telling you that I am trying to use your own argument.
00:46:03 Why are you using 2016, by the way?
00:46:05 Because it tells you that that is how the economies are structured.
00:46:08 When we were at 17 percent, Ivory Coast was under 1 percent.
00:46:12 Let's talk about when you took over from 2017. What was the inflation?
00:46:15 And what is the inflation of Ivory Coast?
00:46:17 What was the inflation?
00:46:18 You made mention of it.
00:46:19 But I have told you 17 percent.
00:46:21 I am talking about Ivory Coast compared to ours.
00:46:23 It was under 0.56 percent.
00:46:26 But we have gone into the 10 billion.
00:46:28 And they have gone to 9 percent.
00:46:30 We have gone into single digits.
00:46:32 And they have gone to 9 percent from 0.56.
00:46:34 And we have shot up to 54 percent.
00:46:35 Calculate the percentage of rate increase.
00:46:38 Then you will understand.
00:46:39 That is how you calculate it.
00:46:40 There is something you are not answering.
00:46:41 What am I not answering?
00:46:42 You say you went to the Ivory Coast.
00:46:43 I am asking you comparatively, cost of living.
00:46:45 I have been to other countries within the sub-region.
00:46:48 In fact, very soon, I will be in another such country.
00:46:51 I cannot respond to that question.
00:46:53 When you go there, I will tell you my experience.
00:46:55 There is no basis for that comparison.
00:46:57 I will tell you my experience.
00:46:58 I don't have a basis for that.
00:46:59 I don't have a basis.
00:47:00 I don't have a basis.
00:47:01 The disparity is yawning.
00:47:02 Cost of food.
00:47:04 Cost of fuel.
00:47:05 Cost of so many things.
00:47:07 In this country, everybody knows that in this country,
00:47:09 even our traders have been going to Togo to go and bring less costly things.
00:47:13 But you are making a comparison.
00:47:14 Why not Togo?
00:47:15 You see, Togo.
00:47:16 Why not Togo?
00:47:17 Togo.
00:47:18 If you go to Akaishi, they will tell you that our parents have been going to Togo
00:47:20 to go and buy things from there as a result of their free port.
00:47:24 Since time immemorial to now.
00:47:25 So, why are you trying to make it look like that?
00:47:27 Why are you trying to make it look like that?
00:47:30 It's not that Togo is less expensive than Ghana.
00:47:31 There is no comparative to be made.
00:47:32 Yes.
00:47:33 You are trying to make it sound like that.
00:47:34 Is that what you are saying?
00:47:35 Yes.
00:47:36 There is no basis.
00:47:37 You started the comparison talking about the sub-region.
00:47:38 You asked the question.
00:47:39 You are talking about the sub-region.
00:47:40 Togo is not a sub-region.
00:47:41 Because, you see, you don't listen.
00:47:43 I am telling you that even Togo has been hit.
00:47:46 Ivory Coast has been hit.
00:47:47 And that is when I am giving you the figures.
00:47:48 The other areas are still far better than ours.
00:47:49 Just because of a free port.
00:47:50 Oh my God.
00:47:51 Just because of a free port.
00:47:52 Their situation must be way better than ours.
00:47:53 Your level is misleading your people to say that.
00:47:57 I don't let you speak.
00:47:58 Well, that is your opinion.
00:47:59 I am telling you that.
00:48:00 That is your opinion.
00:48:01 Ivory Coast.
00:48:02 If you want to test whether the Ivory Coast economy has been hit by the global economy,
00:48:06 you don't come and say that because Ghana is 38 and Ivory Coast is not.
00:48:09 You are fine.
00:48:10 Let me finish.
00:48:11 You've lived there.
00:48:12 You still can't give me a comparative when it comes to the cost of living.
00:48:13 You go and check.
00:48:14 I think we will leave it.
00:48:15 You go and check where Ivory Coast was before now.
00:48:19 And then you will realize that indeed the economy has been impacted.
00:48:23 In 2016, their inflation was about 0.56%.
00:48:27 Today, you tell me their inflation is about 9%.
00:48:31 It tells you how much hits they have received as a result of the global impact.
00:48:35 And you want to pretend that doesn't exist.
00:48:37 So our hits had to take us all the way to 54.
00:48:40 The time they were under 0.56%, we are 72%.
00:48:42 Well, I guess for you, for those of you watching, I am hoping that justifies your opinion.
00:48:48 I think that justifies where we are.
00:48:50 You know the fact.
00:48:51 You are skewing it.
00:48:52 Let me ask you this.
00:48:53 As head of the economic management team, the WISCID, the economic WISCID,
00:48:57 the vice president, some would say, has performed abysmally.
00:49:03 How do you respond to that?
00:49:04 He hasn't.
00:49:05 He hasn't?
00:49:06 Yes, it would have been worse.
00:49:07 I still remember the bit about the solid economic management team.
00:49:11 The solid team has left us where we are.
00:49:14 Ask me then, give your own commentary.
00:49:15 You don't have to bring me here if you do this.
00:49:18 You ask me a question, I am answering.
00:49:20 I thought you would be using the time to respond though.
00:49:22 But you are not giving me the time.
00:49:23 Well, you are spending that time.
00:49:24 Carry on, then close the program.
00:49:26 Respond to it.
00:49:27 Then close the program.
00:49:28 Economic management team, please tell us about the economic WISCID.
00:49:31 I am telling you that it would have been worse.
00:49:33 It would have.
00:49:34 I see.
00:49:35 Don't unnecessarily interject.
00:49:37 Let me speak.
00:49:38 It would have been worse.
00:49:39 This is my show, mind you.
00:49:41 And saying it would have is not an interjection.
00:49:44 Go ahead.
00:49:45 I have nothing more to add.
00:49:47 Well, let's talk about the 800 million as well that another opponent, Kennedy Ejapong,
00:49:54 is talking about that your side wanted to use to influence him.
00:49:59 Do you have any response to that?
00:50:00 It's completely false.
00:50:02 It's unfounded.
00:50:04 It's baseless.
00:50:06 The Vice President has been very busy on the road running the campaign and speaking with
00:50:10 the delegates, those who are going to vote, under no time.
00:50:16 We had no time as a Vice President even thought of engaging any of the candidates to step
00:50:23 down in this contest.
00:50:25 There's a yearning gap between the Vice President and even the next second place candidate.
00:50:30 And we have no reason to ask anybody to step down, let alone offer $800 million.
00:50:35 I don't even think Ghana has $800 million sitting anywhere right now.
00:50:39 Which is why some of us found that very interesting.
00:50:42 So straight away you should know that it's completely out of place.
00:50:45 But the interesting thing is that this is not the first time Kennedy Ejapong is saying this.
00:50:48 You know that.
00:50:49 He's kept repeating that.
00:50:51 Now, what we find interesting is the fact that Kennedy Ejapong has proven himself in
00:50:56 the last, you know, the superdelegates election, to be a force within the MPP, whether surprising
00:51:00 or not.
00:51:01 Don't you find it interesting that someone in such a position levels such an accusation
00:51:06 against what the surveys have revealed is the person in full position?
00:51:11 At least for the fact that he is saying that.
00:51:13 What's the knowledge that he has?
00:51:14 So far it's completely false that Kennedy Ejapong has shown that he is a force to reckon with.
00:51:18 There was about 900 votes in the last election.
00:51:21 Dr Mahmoud Wamiya, who was first, got over 600.
00:51:24 The second place person, which was Kennedy Ejapong, got barely 100, 120 votes.
00:51:28 Did you expect him to get that much?
00:51:30 Well, we don't care about what somebody is getting.
00:51:32 You didn't.
00:51:33 So he's become a force.
00:51:34 So that is a new because if I go into an election of 900 votes and I get 600 and you call the
00:51:38 second place person who barely made 100 a force, that's a poor assertion, but that's your opinion.
00:51:43 I see.
00:51:44 You understand?
00:51:45 This time we're looking at the pool of over 200,000.
00:51:46 It would even be worse.
00:51:48 It would be worse.
00:51:49 The gap between Dr Mahmoud Wamiya and the second place person would even be worse on
00:51:53 Saturday.
00:51:54 And I can assure you that.
00:51:55 And we said this, I remember I was here before the August 26th and I said it here, that he
00:52:00 was going to do nothing less than a 70%.
00:52:03 On Saturday, November 4th, the vice president would not do anything less than a 70%.
00:52:08 So I don't know where this whole perception of forced to reckon with has come.
00:52:13 He's not reckoning with us.
00:52:15 The second place person is reckoning with the third and fourth place, but it's not with
00:52:19 Dr Mahmoud Wamiya under any measure.
00:52:21 And so that assertion cannot be substantiated.
00:52:25 Again, with respect to this whole step down conversation, let's put it on record.
00:52:33 And yesterday we issued a statement to that effect.
00:52:36 The vice president is very much interested in getting a contest on Saturday.
00:52:40 He's interested in that contest.
00:52:42 Yes, because this factless point that you make should be established.
00:52:47 Which factless point?
00:52:48 That other candidates are forced to be reckoned with.
00:52:51 It should be established.
00:52:52 It appears the only thing you acknowledge in fact are the opinions that you support.
00:52:57 But why?
00:52:58 What supports the fact that somebody is forced to reckon with?
00:53:01 So, global info analytics, for example.
00:53:03 Have you seen their research?
00:53:04 Yes.
00:53:05 Have you seen it?
00:53:06 Yes, I've seen it.
00:53:07 What does it tell you?
00:53:08 But they gave a survey before August 26th.
00:53:09 Have you gone to check and ask them why they are surveyed?
00:53:11 And their survey didn't pass.
00:53:13 It didn't pass.
00:53:14 So why should I?
00:53:15 I predicted 70%.
00:53:16 What did not pass?
00:53:17 I predicted 70% for August 26th.
00:53:18 The vice president got 69%.
00:53:19 Check what they predicted and check how much the vice president got.
00:53:22 So you are not giving any credence to them?
00:53:25 No, because so far their predictions didn't come to pass.
00:53:29 Ours rather passed.
00:53:31 So between us and any other survey, we will pay attention to ours.
00:53:38 What we take from surveys, what we take from surveys usually is a commentary.
00:53:42 You know, the feedback.
00:53:44 What are the people saying?
00:53:45 Those are the things we take seriously.
00:53:47 And then we'll find ways and means to work within them and make sure that we are amending ourselves and improving in other areas.
00:53:53 But in terms of vice president, I hear they even say the vice president will do under 50%.
00:53:58 We'll get to about 43%.
00:54:00 It's all just predictions.
00:54:03 Do you subscribe to the Center for Sustainable African Development Initiative report?
00:54:09 They say the vice president will get about 80.8%.
00:54:13 Do you subscribe to that one?
00:54:14 I know that the vice president will do nothing less than 70%.
00:54:18 Nothing less than 70%?
00:54:19 Yes, that I know.
00:54:20 Nothing less than 70%.
00:54:21 They're playing it safe.
00:54:22 No, that's the best way to go about surveys.
00:54:25 But even if you look at the primary, I mean the super league delegates, and what he got, it would make sense to play around that figure.
00:54:33 Yeah, but we predicted that.
00:54:34 Obviously over 20% going to Kennedy and Japone and the rest sharing the spoils.
00:54:41 But some have said that with the number 200,000, you're looking at about 1% versus 100%.
00:54:47 The about 2,000 that voted for the super delegates are now over 200,000.
00:54:53 And it's been said that that is where really we'll be able to separate the boys from the men.
00:55:00 But people have also spoken.
00:55:01 Today I even saw Dr. Efre Akutu has spoken about, he calls it manipulation and favoritism.
00:55:07 Adai Ndumu has spoken about it.
00:55:09 Bwache Ndaku has spoken about it.
00:55:11 Alaa Chebating, even on the back of that, decided to go and form his movement.
00:55:16 It's an election.
00:55:17 It's an election.
00:55:18 We are running.
00:55:19 And we've heard the Ashanti regional chairman of your party even going to the extent of saying that he, together with other chairmen, chiefs and others,
00:55:25 will sponsor feeding and other things on the day of the primary in the name of Dr. Bawumia.
00:55:32 Let me just ask you this.
00:55:33 The question is, do you find this to be fair?
00:55:38 Is it not the manipulation that some other candidates are speaking of?
00:55:41 I mean, it's an election.
00:55:42 And it's an internal election that has delegates.
00:55:45 In elections, lobbying and influence is very important, including weapon.
00:55:49 And that's why even when you go to parliament, weapon is formalized.
00:55:52 This is outside of parliament.
00:55:54 No, I am from Ikeapim North.
00:55:56 I have been emceeing Ikeapim North.
00:55:57 I support Dr. Mahmood Bawumia.
00:55:59 From here, I'm going to Ikeapim North.
00:56:00 I'm going to call the delegates and tell them that I support a vice president.
00:56:02 If you like me, come with me and let's vote for the vice president.
00:56:05 And we are asking a lot more party people, party leaders to do that.
00:56:10 It is up to you, the other contender, to find ways and means to get a lot more party leaders to be with you.
00:56:16 In this party, when we are going for an internal election, we all have one vote, including the president.
00:56:21 So why don't you go with your vote and your conscience to vote for him?
00:56:24 No, so who is going to campaign for me?
00:56:25 Who is going to campaign for who?
00:56:26 You need to set up a campaign team.
00:56:28 You need to bring people to campaign for you.
00:56:30 Who is going to campaign for you?
00:56:34 Who is going to campaign for you?
00:56:35 Your job.
00:56:36 In fact, your first test is how you will be able to convince people to buy into your ideas and get them to advocate for you.
00:56:43 There is no crime in getting people to support your cause.
00:56:46 There is no crime in getting people to advocate for you.
00:56:49 And that's exactly what we are doing.
00:56:50 Even this morning, we are still talking to a lot more influential people within the party.
00:56:54 That is our job as a campaign team.
00:56:55 Why do you think we've been put together?
00:56:57 Our job is to come together, identify people who can work on people and get people.
00:57:02 There are people that will go to their girlfriends, will go to their wives, will go to their husbands to get them to talk to their partners to vote for us.
00:57:10 That is what politics is about.
00:57:12 The MPP is seeking to break the eight.
00:57:15 Some are saying that with the push for Dr. Baumea, whom they call the establishment candidate, you'll win the battle, but you can't win the war.
00:57:24 How do you react?
00:57:25 How do you react to the war to your amazement and to your shock?
00:57:28 As a matter of fact, on probably 8th December, midnight, you will be declaring here for Dr. Mahmoud Baumea.
00:57:35 You see, on two grounds.
00:57:37 The people of Ghana have learned from what happened between 2000 and 2008.
00:57:41 When President Kofor took over this country, we were on our knees.
00:57:44 He moved this country so well that by the time he was leaving office, Ghana was called the gateway to Africa.
00:57:49 We were touted as the golden age of business.
00:57:52 Banks were coming to our homes and asking us to come for loans and do business.
00:57:56 In the year 2008, the election year, President Kofor encountered two challenges.
00:58:00 Challenge number one, full price shortage and hikes.
00:58:03 Challenge number two, water shortages.
00:58:05 Remember the Kofor yellow gallon, where in the morning you see people move up and down with yellow gallons looking for water.
00:58:11 When we got into the election period, the NDC plus their collaborators decided to spin as a result of those two challenges and said,
00:58:20 "Oh, Ghana is hard. Ghana is difficult like you're doing this morning. Ghana is hard. Ghana is difficult. Ghana is this. Ghana is that."
00:58:25 Maybe Ghana is good for you. It's not for you.
00:58:27 And then they started running around with Kofor and his people have stolen all the gold from the Bank of Ghana.
00:58:32 They have stolen money. This is their NIB account, their GCB account.
00:58:35 And then the people of Ghana had no choice.
00:58:37 As a result of some of the things that you are doing here, they had no choice and then they voted for the NDC.
00:58:42 Fast forward. When the NDC came to power and they were being vetted, a lot of them said that most of the things they said were lies.
00:58:48 And I'm very, very sure a lot of the things that you say here, eventually, God forbid, if MPP is not in power and NDC is here,
00:58:54 you would come and admit that in fact a lot of them were not factual.
00:58:57 We have gone down that link before.
00:58:59 I take Sarah's exception to what you're saying.
00:59:00 Oh, of course. But a lot of them are not factual.
00:59:02 We operate with data. We operate with what the factual figures are.
00:59:05 But I've challenged you.
00:59:06 Which ones have you challenged? Which ones have you challenged?
00:59:08 So you realize that.
00:59:09 No, no, no. I will not allow you to go on. Do not come and sit here and say that we do not operate with what is factual.
00:59:15 I say a lot of them. Some of them are, but a lot of them are not.
00:59:18 A lot of what you have said here is not factual.
00:59:20 So be it. So be it. So eventually, like it happened in 2009, a lot of you will come and admit that some of the things you said.
00:59:29 But God forbid, the people of Ghana have learned from that.
00:59:32 And they have realized that when eventually we left power to the NDC, the results were what we experienced in 2016,
00:59:40 where places like multimedia had to even lay off workers because your operational costs were so high.
00:59:46 You are running on justice. Some media houses.
00:59:48 It is you who say that. My lights were off yesterday. My lights were off.
00:59:52 Do you know how many times the light has been going off in different places?
00:59:56 You probably have power outage, but you're not speaking.
00:59:59 We would have wished it was like this in 2016. We would have wished it was like this in 2016.
01:00:03 Miracles. Please wrap the conversation. Please go. Please wrap.
01:00:07 You're not happy? Please wrap. So based on all of this.
01:00:11 We actually have to go to the... So based on all of these things, the people of Ghana are clear in their minds that
01:00:16 Dr. Mahmoudou Boumia must be given the opportunity to reinforce and protect the little gains we have made.
01:00:21 I see. The few factories that are operational. Okay.
01:00:24 The hospitals that we are putting up. All right.
01:00:27 The children that are in schools. The infrastructure we are providing for these schools.
01:00:31 The efforts we are making in health. I agree.
01:00:34 These gains must be protected. Whilst we pursue the outstanding things like the macroeconomic indicators that are not looking too good.
01:00:42 Whilst we pursue them, we have to make sure that those gains are protected.
01:00:45 Thank you. That is the reason why on the 8th of December, you would be here declaring for Dr. Mahmoudou Boumia against your wishes.
01:00:53 All right. Thank you very much, Dennis. Miracles, Abouadje, for joining the conversation this morning.
01:00:59 He's a member of the Dr. Boumia campaign. I'll be back. And he's an emcee. Are you still? I was a former emcee.
01:01:06 Okay. Former emcee. He says he's campaigning for Boumia and he will whip his people in line.
01:01:10 But we'll see what happens on November the 4th. That is where the cookie will crumble.
01:01:16 The comments are so many. But Abigail Oluwuse says you will win the internal but lose the main elections.
01:01:22 Well, this has been the interaction from the Dr. Boumia end of things.
01:01:27 But how about Dr. Friyia Koto? He's also in the fray. Now, we told you we were looking at two of them.
01:01:32 Here's a conversation with the former agric minister, together with my own colleague, Elton John Broby.
01:01:44 [Music]
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