Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2028 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has criticised the government over its handling of the economy, demolitions and the implementation of social programmes.
Addressing the NPP National Delegates Conference and national executive elections at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, 2026, Dr Bawumia said the government’s much-publicised 24-hour economy agenda had instead resulted in what he described as “24-hour demolitions.”
“The NDC promised Ghanaians and the youth of this country in search of jobs a flagship 24-hour economy with one job, three shifts and three people (1-3-3),” Dr Bawumia said, according to reports of his address.
“Sadly, the promised 24-hour economy jobs have now turned into 24-hour demolition of buildings for so-called 24-hour markets.”
His comments come amid public debate over demolitions, including the recent demolition exercise at La Pleasure Beach in the Labadi area of Accra. Reports indicate that security personnel demolished structures at the site on Friday, October 2, 2026.
Dr Bawumia expressed solidarity with people affected by the exercise and called for compensation for their losses.
“We stand with Labadi. The government must pay victims of the demolition exercise compensation,” he stated.
On the economy, Dr Bawumia questioned whether the reported decline in inflation had translated into meaningful relief for households.
“Even though inflation has dropped to 5%, the cost of living for Ghanaians has increased drastically,” he said.
He also criticised the government over the implementation of the 24-hour market programme and questioned its prioritisation relative to unfinished healthcare infrastructure.
“This government prefers 24-hour markets to hospitals,” he said.
The government has previously explained that the 24-hour market programme is being implemented through the Ministry of Local Government and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, with funding from the District Assemblies Common Fund. Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development, Goosie Tanoh, has also clarified that the 24-Hour Economy Authority itself has no jurisdiction over the market programme.
Dr Bawumia further criticised the state of the Agenda 111 hospital programme, arguing that several projects inherited from the previous administration had not been completed.
On education, he claimed that some Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduates had been excluded from the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme and called for attention to the situation.
He also addressed the fight against illegal drugs, arguing that arresting drug couriers alone would not sufficiently address drug trafficking.
“Arresting drug couriers is not enough. We need to know the financiers,” he said, calling for investigations into those who finance drug trafficking operations.
The NPP National Delegates Conference is being held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, where delegates are voting to elect the party’s national officers as part of its reorganisation ahead of the 2028 general election.
Credit: 3news.com
