FACT-CHECK: Dr Bawumia’s claims about why Akufo-Addo is better than Mahama

Claim: Four claims about how economic indicators are performing better under the NPP than the former NDC government

Source: Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

Verdict: Four claims assessed are true

Researched by Rabiu Alhassan

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has made multiple claims about the economic achievements of the current government as compared to the former and made a case why Ghanaians should re-elect President Nana Akufo-Addo during the upcoming December elections.

In a Facebook post on July 28, he listed “50 achievements” of the current administration and said: “On the basis of the performance record, the leadership of this country by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has resulted in much better outcomes than the disastrous outcomes under the leadership of John Mahama.”

The post has since generated close to 7,300 Facebook engagements, including 1,300 comments and 1,200 shares and was leading the trends on twitter in Ghana, at a point last night.

This fact-check report will assess the accuracy of 4 claims made by the Vice President.

Claim

According to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia:

“John Mahama presided over a decline in economic growth for his four years in office while Nana Akufo-Addo has presided over higher economic growth in his first three years in office before the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Fact-check

Here, we will look at the GDP growth rates in the first three years of Former President John Mahama’s government, strike the average rate and compare with the same period under President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Since the year has not yet ended, we will not consider 2020 in this analysis and to ensure fairness, the 2016 growth rate figure of 3.4% will also be omitted in scrutinizing the performance of the previous government.

Former President John Mahama (NDC)

Source: World Bank

 President Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP)

Source: World Bank

Comparatively the NPP administration under President Nana Akufo-Addo has performed better than the previous government when using the GDP growth rate as an indicator, so the claim is true.

Claim

According to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia:

“John Mahama presided over a decline in agriculture. Nana Akufo-Addo increased agricultural output and Ghana is currently exporting many food items as a result of the planting for food and jobs initiative.”

Fact-check

To assess this claim, we will look at the Agriculture sector growth rate during the former government and compare to the performance of the sector in the current administration.

To ensure a fair assessment of the two governments, we will have to leave out the last years of their respective tenures including 2016 and 2020.

Former President John Mahama (NDC)

Source: GSS

President Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP)

Source: GSS

After striking a three-year average of the growth rates recorded in the Agricultural sector under the NDC and NPP, it is true that the current government has performed better than the previous administration.

Ghana has increased exports of food items to neighbouring countries from 85,000 MT to 133,145 MT between 2017 and 2019, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Attah disclosed in the 2020 Mid-year budget and pointed at government’s Planting for Food and Jobs initiative for the improvement.

However, it should be noted that between 2017 and 2019, Agricultural sector growth has declined consistently.

Claim

According to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia:

“John Mahama presided over low industrial growth during his four years in office. Nana Akufo-Addo has increased industrial growth and building and reviving many factories under IDIF, etc..”

Fact-check

Former President John Mahama (NDC)

Source: GSS/World Bank

President Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP)

Source: GSS/World Bank

The current government has averagely performed better in three years compared to the same period under the former administration. So, the claim is true.

Claim

According to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia:

“John Mahama presided over higher inflation. Nana Akufo-Addo has reduced inflation.”

Fact-check

Former President John Mahama (NDC)

Source: World Bank

President Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP)

Source: World Bank

The average inflation rate in the first three years of the current government is better than what pertained during a similar period under the former government. So, the claim by Vice President Bawumia is true.

Conclusion

After scrutinizing four claims by the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, we rate them as true.