Bawumia was fiercely opposed to E-Levy, IMF loan – Kate Gyamfua claims : New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Women’s Organizer Kate Gyamfua has said that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia opposed the government’s decision to seek a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the passing of the E-Levy tax handle.
During a November 23, 2024, interview with Peace FM’s Kokrokoo, Gyamfua asserted that Bawumia and Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister of Communication, had opposed the E-Levy’s implementation during a party caucus meeting.
It is widely believed by the public that Bawumia had support from President Akufo-Addo during the flagbearer elections. As the only confirmation I have from the presidency that Bawumia has won is 15%, I would want to say that anyone claiming otherwise is lying.
You should allow someone to dispute what I am telling you. I am the one telling you. I will go defend this matter if they contact me; otherwise, this shouldn’t have come up. I’m just exhausted.
A pair of members expressed their opposition to the E-levy during its introduction. Why tax the money of the poor, as Bawumia claimed, when the E-levy will impact them? He never consented to the E-levy; in fact, he actively battled it.
“Any NPP member who wishes to contest this should come forward; I am the one informing you. During the meeting, Bawumia and Ursula Owusu argued against the E-levy, saying that it was unimportant and that they should focus their efforts elsewhere. That hasn’t improved our economy in any way, that is true,” she remarked.
As the NPP National Women’s Organizer continued, she disclosed that Bawumia again objected to talks over asking the IMF for financial relief.
The Vice President was praised for his position, she added, but President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was worried about the situation’s potential to worsen and the consequences of failing to get the IMF’s backing.
In a meeting, Bawumia expressed her opposition to our approaching the IMF. In his view, people have this amount here and ought to hang onto it, thus he suggested that Ghana could raise the money it is requesting from the IMF locally.
We even applauded him, but the President indicated he wanted to avoid a situation getting out of control before going to the IMF, she claimed.