The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has replied former President John Mahama after the latter accused him of “embarrassing” President Nana Akufo-Addo with a “419” digital addressing application which cost Ghana $2.5 million (GHS9.9m) when it already existed on mobile phones.
“I’ll refrain from commenting on national issues because I think that when a new government comes into power, you give it a honeymoon so that it can settle in but unfortunately it looks like NPP is wasting away its honeymoon period with the mistakes that it is doing.
“Otherwise, how can you launch a Google GPS system that is freely available on our mobile phones and say it is the best national addressing system?” Mr Mahama wondered, adding: “It’s such a pity.”
“Why would you embarrass the president so much? You go and take a whole president to bring him to come and launch a system that is 419,” he said.
In his response, Dr Bawumia said: “We know a 419 scam when we see one and that unfortunately was the hallmark of the administration of former president Mahama. Ghanaians will find out more soon as people are held legally accountable.
With the record that former president Mahama has in the area of governance, it is incredible that he would have the effrontery to talk about ‘419 scams’…I should note that propaganda did not help former President Mahama when he was in government and it is certainly not going to help him in opposition.
We welcome constructive criticism but before you criticise, please take your time to make sure you know what you are talking about otherwise you would be sadly exposed as being ignorant of simple facts as in this case.”
“We have spent $2.3 million on a NDPAS and I dare say it is money well spent for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
It is not money finding itself into the pockets of a few cronies. We did not spend it on Akonfem, bus branding, over-priced mansions and contracts, ghost roads, etc. We have spent it on something productive.
As a result, Ghana has an excellent digital property addressing system if former president Mahama would care to take some time and just read and learn about it. It was developed by Ghanaians and we should collectively take pride in their work and not try to pull them down.
