Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has raised alarm over recent political developments under President John Mahama’s administration, warning that they pose a serious threat to the country’s democracy.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Bawumia accused the new government of engaging in political persecution, including arbitrary dismissals of workers, intimidation of journalists, and military raids on homes and communities.
“These are certainly worrying times for our democracy, and the earlier action is taken to protect institutions and democratic practice, the better it would be for Ghana’s forward march,” he wrote
Bawumia, who conceded defeat to Mahama in the 2024 election, said he had refrained from commenting on governance issues to allow the new administration to settle. However, he felt compelled to speak out due to what he described as troubling actions by the government.
“Since assuming office, however, the government of President Mahama has pursued a series of actions targeting Ghanaians who were legitimately employed during the previous administration,” he stated, calling the move ironic for a party that campaigned on job creation.
According to him, not only have ordinary workers been dismissed, but public service directors with no political affiliations have also been removed. Some, he said, were targeted merely because they were “known to or related to politicians as if to suggest that they cannot live independent professional lives, however qualified they are.”
Bawumia further alleged that the government plans to terminate the appointments of security personnel, nurses, and teachers simply because they were hired under the previous administration, calling such actions “most unfortunate.”
Beyond employment concerns, he decried a growing sense of insecurity in the country, citing “attacks on journalists, the use of our military to raid the homes of former government officials and communities, as well as mobs attacking innocent individuals and state institutions.”
“This is rather reminiscent of a military takeover and not a peaceful democratic transition,” he warned.
Calling on President Mahama to be “a president for all Ghanaians,” Bawumia urged an immediate reversal of the dismissals and an end to what he sees as an erosion of democratic values.
“We must advance our democracy. We must protect our state institutions. We must uphold our Constitution. Ghana can do better. Ghana must do better!” he declared.
