Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has criticised the government over what he described as its handling of the economy, demolitions and the implementation of social programmes.
Addressing the NPP’s National Delegates Conference and national executives election in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, 2026, Dr Bawumia said the government’s much-publicised 24-hour economy agenda had instead resulted in what he described as “24-hour demolitions.”
His comments came amid ongoing public discussion over the demolition of structures and businesses around the La Beach area in Accra. Dr Bawumia has separately criticised the demolition exercise, particularly the destruction of movable property belonging to business operators.
“We stand with Labadi. The government must pay victims of the demolition exercise compensation,” Dr Bawumia said.
He also questioned the government’s economic record, arguing that improvements in headline inflation had not translated into corresponding relief for households.
“Even though inflation has dropped to 5%, the cost of living for Ghanaians has increased drastically,” he stated.
Dr Bawumia further accused the government of abandoning some programmes inherited from the previous administration, citing the Agenda 111 hospital project as an example.
He also criticised the government’s healthcare priorities, alleging that it appeared more focused on establishing 24-hour markets than completing or expanding healthcare infrastructure.
“This government prefers 24-hour markets to hospitals,” he said.
On education, the former Vice President claimed that a number of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduates had been excluded from the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.
He called for attention to the situation, arguing that access to secondary education should remain a priority.
Dr Bawumia also addressed the fight against illegal drugs, saying the arrest of drug couriers alone was insufficient to deal with the problem.
“Arresting drug couriers is not enough. We need to know the financiers,” he said, calling for investigations to identify those who fund drug trafficking operations.
The NPP National Delegates Conference is being held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, with more than 7,000 delegates expected to participate in the election of national officers. The conference forms part of the party’s reorganisation ahead of the 2028 general election.
Dr Bawumia emerged as the NPP’s flagbearer for the 2028 presidential election after winning the party’s presidential primary in January 2026.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
