Kofi Tonto, a political aide and a deputy spokesperson to the former Vice President, Dr Bawumia
Kofi Tonto, a political aide and a deputy spokesperson to the former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has strongly criticized Dr Bryan Achaeampong, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, for blaming Bawumia while attempting to distance himself from the economic struggles faced by Ghana under the NPP government.
Tonto argued that Achaeampong, as a former Minister of Agriculture and a Member of Parliament, bears a significant responsibility for the country’s economic downturn, a phenomenon he cannot simply absolve himself of, if we are to apportion blames.
This statement comes after Achaeampong blamed Bawumia for the state of the economy during the tenure of former President Akufo-Addo.
The NPP flagbearer hopeful argued that Bawumia, who served as Vice President, played a central role in the economic mismanagement under the NPP Government, while shifting the blame away from other key players like the finance minister.
In a powerful response, Kofi Tonto questioned how Achaeampong could claim that the finance minister and the Minister of Agriculture had no role to play in the economy, yet accuse a Vice President, who under the constitution does not have a specific mandate in economic affairs, of being solely responsible for the country’s financial struggles.
Tonto emphasised that Achaeampong’s leadership as Minister of Agriculture cannot be overlooked, as the sector holds a crucial part of Ghana’s economy. “Agriculture accounts for about 40 percent of the country’s economy,” Tonto remarked. “If we are to assign blame for the economic failures, then Dr. Achaeampong, who was directly in charge of such a significant sector, cannot absolve himself.”
Furthermore, Tonto pointed out that Achaeampong’s role as a Member of Parliament (MP) and his responsibility in approving the national budget and loans makes him an essential part of any discussion about the economy.
“His position in Parliament gave him an important say in economic matters. He cannot ignore the role he played in the approval of budgets and loans that supposedly affected the nation’s financial landscape,” Tonto argued.
In his interview with Accra-based Kessben TV, Tonto also clarified that decisions made by the Economic Management Team (EMT), which included several prominent NPP officials, were not final without the approval of President Akufo-Addo and Cabinet.
This, he said, further undermines Achaeampong’s attempt to single out Dr Bawumia as the sole person to blame for the economic challenges faced during the previous administration.
Tonto added that blaming the Vice President, who does not have a direct constitutional role in economic policy formulation, overlooks the broader and collective responsibility of the entire government, including Achaeampong’s own involvement in a crucial sector like the Ministry of Agriculture.
Tonto further cautioned against blame games and urged Acheampong to focus on why he is the best to lead the NPP for the 2028 elections.
“All the flagbearer hopefuls are fine gentlemen and achievers. That is why it is imperative that they focus on why the best are to lead. You cannot blame or denigrate your competitor as a failure and then later turn around to campaign for that person,” Tonto remarked.
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com
