Bawumia: Don’t measure govt’s performance post-COVID-19 only

Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia has said it is wrong to measure the government’s performance only by the current post-COVID-19 economic difficulties.

He said the country’s economic outlook before the pandemic was positive; thus, the government continued to attribute the current crises to factors emanating from the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Judging government by the development in the global space and not including the performance of the economy when we assumed office in 2017 to 2020 is an anti-climax. And we all know that period gave us a strong economy.”

Bawumia said this in an address at the 60th-anniversary celebration of Hogbetsotsoza at the Anloga park, in the Volta Region.

He said the government had chalked many successes across all sectors, including school infrastructure, railways, fish landing sites, interoperability, restored teachers and nurses allowances as well as many transformational policies and programmes.

The vice-president said these successes were unequal to successive governments’ performance on all fronts.

Bawumia said the government was working assiduously to stem the high food and fuel prices and urged Ghanaians to be patient.

He identified with the strong cultural heritage of the Anlo people, which is a panacea for the development of the creative industry, an enabler and a driver for sustainable national development.

He said Keta and Anloga continued to harness a chunk of the tourism traffic and urged the residents to maintain the peace at all times.

Togbi Sri III, the Awoamefia of Anlo, said COVID-19 denied them the organisation and celebration of the festival for two years, the same way its effects were wreaking havoc on the economy.

He said the Russia-Ukraine war had added another dimension to the crisis with escalating fuel hikes, food shortages and high inflation.

He appealed to the people to remain patient with the government for a permanent solution to the difficulties.

The Awoamefia bemoaned the increasing exodus of professionals from the Anlo enclave compared to their collective support for the development of the area.

He said the time had come for them to redirect their efforts at building a solid Anlo state to motivate the young ones.

History was made when Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II, the Asantehene and his entourage of chiefs, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse and his retinue of chiefs and Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, the Kwahuhene’s delegation participated in the event.

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II said his forefathers and the Anlos forged a military pact, which he wanted to practicalise through development to benefit the two kingdoms in a win-win situation.

He said he had been yearning for an occasion like this to demonstrate to the whole world that Asantes and Anlos were inseparable and could only work to better the fortunes available to them.

He said it was time to maximise the human resources of the two kingdoms, improve productivity and creativity of their people.

Daasebre Akuamoah Agyapong II, the Kwahuhene, said he agreed to participate in the festival to forge stronger ties due to the mindset of the people towards work and peacebuilding.

King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse, who presided, appealed to the Anlos to unite and forge a common front for development to thrive, adding “close your ranks and not allow politicians to divide you”.

The festival also known as Hogbeza, which commemorates the legendary exodus of the Ewe-Dogbo folks from Notsie in present-day neighbouring Togo.

The festival was held this year after its suspension in 2020 and 2021 in compliance with COVID-19 protocols and was attended by people from far and near, diplomats, politicians and the clergy. – AsaaseRadio