James Mckeown, Chairman of NPP Finland Branch, has declared that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate and current Vice President, is the most impactful vice president Ghana has had under the Fourth Republic.
During an interview on the Happy Morning Show with Sefa Danquah, Mckeown stated, “Mahama served as vice president for four years, while Bawumia has been in office for eight years. Before Mahama became president, what significant accomplishments did he have as vice president that will make people believe he would be a better president?”
Mckeown argued that Mahama’s tenure as vice president and later as president from 2012 was associated with corruption, citing the Airbus scandal as a notable example.
“The Airbus scandal clearly shows that Mahama is corrupt. What can Ghanaians remember him for as vice president? There’s nothing, except corruption. In contrast, Bawumia’s tenure as vice president is marked by over 32 or 33 significant projects,” he noted.
Mckeown also highlighted the success of Bawumia’s digitalization efforts, which have made cashless transactions more convenient.
“I can’t remember the last time I used cash for a purchase; I always pay with my phone, thanks to Bawumia’s digitalization initiatives. These are key achievements we can attribute to him as vice president,” he remarked.
He said the digital address system, which Bawumia introduced, has created numerous job opportunities for the youth, particularly in sectors like Uber driving and deliveries, though some still fail to recognize its economic significance.
“Uber driving and deliveries wouldn’t be possible without the digital address system and GPS, yet people overlook how this contributes to the economy. If someone claims Bawumia has neglected the economy to focus on digitalization, remind them that digitalization is the economy,” Mckeown emphasized.
Comparing Mahama and Bawumia as vice presidents, Mckeown firmly believes that Bawumia’s achievements as vice president surpass those of Mahama and that, if given the chance, Bawumia would accomplish even more if elected president.