Mr Kofi Bentil, Vice President of the policy think tank, IMANI Africa, has made a strong case for the candidature of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
He wants Ghanaians to give Dr. Bawumia a chance as president, like they gave John Mahama and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, but not to go back to someone they rejected on two occasions, after giving him just a term in office.
According to him, given the two main aspirants, the Vice President, Dr. Bawumia stands tall over the former President, John Dramani Mahama, who Ghanaians rejected in 2016 and 2020.
Kofi Bentil, who has been critical of the policies of the Akufo-Addo government, in a thought-provoking statement endorsed the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Bawumia, to become the next president of Ghana.
In his argument, which has ignited conversation in the political space, Kofi Bentil isolated Vice President Bawumia from the current administration, stating that he did not have any constitutional powers and cannot, therefore, be blamed for the ills of the current government.
On the other hand, the main opponent on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, Kofi Bentil argued, has been president before, but was voted out just after four years.
In his view, it would not be fair to punish Dr. Bawumia for the sins of the Akufo-Addo government, especially when Mahama was vice president for two terms before becoming president.
“We gave President Mahama a chance to be president; the least we can do is give Dr. Bawumia a fair and objective hearing. He is not president and has never been president! I have no doubt he will be better!” he wrote.
KOFI’S CASE
Kofi Bentil relied on his three decades of experience in the conversation on nation-building to argue that the debate should rise above emotions and anger.
Instead, he advocated “sober thought and reflection and always make the choices we believe in, and admit where there are errors, and still make the best choices we can.”
To him, this was the way to succeed as a nation.
Sharing his thoughts on Dr. Bawumia and John Mahama, Kofi Bentil further stated that Mahama had had two terms as Veep and a term as President, and his record is known.
He continued that the other candidate, Dr. Bawumia has only had two terms as Veep and has never been in charge as President, and his record is known, citing the digitalization drive especially.
“One has had all the power in the nation and we know how it turned out. The other has had an office, which by our constitution is essentially powerless!
“Those who know will tell you he was indeed like a driver’s mate. He was part of the system, but had no control.”
He continued that, “I have decided that even if I’m disappointed with the present government, of which he is part, I know he was not in charge and I cannot, in fairness, punish him for the sins of the one who is leaving for good.
“I will be hurting the wrong person and myself. This government is over. They are leaving. That’s the way we designed the constitution and it’s a good safety valve to ensure there will be change.”
The Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, Kofi Bentil said, has shown potential but has never had the chance to implement it, as compared to the one who has had the chance and shown Ghanaians his best but was rejected.
“The fact of his earlier record is etched in history and cannot be changed. I choose to move forward; I choose to never go backward, especially to an option we all rejected. Ghana has enough people, so we don’t need to go back to old, unsuccessful options. We can try new and promising people. I believe Dr. Bawumia is the new one we haven’t tried.
“I am 100% sure I will forever wonder how it would be if we don’t choose him. Ghanaians will forever wonder. I am quite sure he will be a great president. I’ve watched him closely and I am convinced,” he said of Dr. Bawumia.
Though John Mahama has outlined some of the policies he would implement if voted for, Dr. Bawumia has yet to make such pronouncement since his election in November, last year.
Dr. Bawumia is billed to address the nation on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 in Accra, where he is rumoured to name his running mate.
