Adwoa Safo Defends Bawumia Amid Driver's Mate Claims

Former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has vehemently defended former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, dismissing assertions that he bears responsibility for the economic difficulties faced during the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

Addressing NPP delegates, Ms. Safo urged party members to reject narratives that blame Dr. Bawumia for economic mismanagement, emphasizing that his influence on key economic decisions was limited.

She firmly believes Dr. Bawumia remains the most capable candidate to lead the party into the future. According to Ms. Safo, the formulation and implementation of economic policies were primarily directed by other high-ranking officials, notably the former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

Questioning the attempts to attribute blame to Dr. Bawumia, she rhetorically asked, “Was Dr. Bawumia the Finance Minister? Were we not in government when some MPs voiced concerns about the economy’s mismanagement and called for a change in the Finance Minister? Didn’t he cause significant damage before his removal? So, how can we hold Bawumia accountable?”

Ms. Safo stressed that Dr. Bawumia lacked the authority to overturn decisions made at the highest echelons of government. She illustrated this point with a metaphor, stating, “He was only the driver’s mate and could not overrule the driver, even if the driver was not performing well.”

Her comments come in the wake of criticism from some NPP flagbearer hopefuls who have linked the party’s economic performance in government to Dr. Bawumia. The NPP is scheduled to elect its presidential candidate on January 31, 2026, in preparation for the next general elections. Dr. Bawumia is currently among five contenders vying for the party’s leadership position.

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