The Presidential Meet The Press - I Worry About Vice President Bawumiah

President Akuffo Addo’s maiden meeting with the press could generally be viewed as a successful one. Perhaps, that is the reason why days after the event, we are still talking and writing about it. The wily old president was in good form. His eloquence, charm and wit were on full show. But the question asked by KABA, the host of Ekosii Sen on Asempa radio about whether he had been tamed by the presidency, seemed to suggest to me, that I am not alone in thinking that this charming part of the president had not been evident before he was elected. Then, he had come across as an angry old man desperate to be president.

As much as one admires a seventy-two-year-old president trying hard to appear fit and strong, there have been cracks on the wall about his general health and well-being. The coughing fit during the inauguration, the “cold” during the May Day celebration and what looked like a sore throat or some upper respiratory tract infection during his recent engagement with the press give cause for concern. While these symptoms may be brushed aside in a fifty-year-old, they cannot be ignored in a man of his age. It takes one serious bout of pneumonia to cause havoc. And perhaps, the president himself is aware of this. And that is why he seemed to suggest, that he might not be on the ballot paper for the next election in 2020.


A president is expected to be regularly and thoroughly briefed by his ministers and handlers so at every material moment, he is fully on top of all issues. In the end, we voted for the president and not for his ministers and so do we demand accountability directly from the president. I am of the view therefore, that putting his ministers on the spot by simply passing on controversial or difficult questions over to them to answer, was a bit of a low point in this encounter. It created the picture, perhaps erroneously but who knows, of a tired old president unable to cope with the complexities of his job. And then one begins to wonder why he missed the presidential debates prior to the election.

And so, Vice president Bawumiah protested! When asked by the president to deal with the question relating to the uncompleted vice-presidential bungalow, he blurted out something to the effect, that it was not fair to be asked to deal with that question, before he had had time to think. I have heard people argue, that it was said on the lighter side and that it reflects the cordial relationship that exists between the president and his vice. I beg to differ. In Ghanaian culture, when the president, in full view of the press and the rest of the country watching live on TV asks you to do something, you just give it your best shot. There should be absolutely no argument about that!


But there is a reason why Bawumiah blurted out what I see as his hidden frustrations in the manner he did. Here is a vice president whose authority is being usurped by the day. He looks on while others assume responsibility for important national issues only for him to be put on the spot before the press. And his answer to the question gave his feelings away. He admitted he had no clue what was going on with the building and rather hopelessly suggested it might be a good idea to come to some form of compromise with the contractor so the country does not lose money.


And as if that was not enough he was called upon, as chairman of the Economic Management Team, to answer the question about government borrowing. Not only did he fumble badly, at one point he seemed to be asking for help when he mentioned that the finance minister was there and he had been putting everybody in check. What that meant was, that Bawumiah’s hands were tied as everything was controlled by Ken Ofori-Atta. Please look at the images of Ken’s face while Bawumiah rambled on. He clearly seemed to be wondering what the guy was faffing about.


And so, I worry about Bawumiah. The one-time superstar of the NPP seems to be harbouring a lot of pent up feelings about the way he is being treated at the seat of government. And as often happens with pent up feelings, there is bound to be an explosion at some point, and my brother, what an inferno that would cause.


Papa Appiah