Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Samuel Ayeh-Paye, has criticized Ernest Owusu-Bempah, the Deputy National Communication Director of the NPP, for his recent remarks predicting economic hardships and power outages under the incoming John Mahama-led administration.
Mr. Ayeh-Paye, speaking in an interview on Joy Prime on December 24, 2024, expressed disappointment over such comments, stating that they inadvertently cast doubt on the achievements of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration.
“These statements suggest that the Nana Addo government has failed,” Ayeh-Paye said. “We have not handed over to the NDC yet. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo remains the President of the Republic of Ghana. As we speak, though we have a President-Elect, Nana Addo is still in charge.”
He further questioned the logic behind Owusu-Bempah’s predictions of impending hardship and power crises.
“Why should someone like Owusu-Bempah make such statements? Why imply that there will be hardship or dumsor soon when your president is still in office? Are you suggesting that the foundations laid by your administration are weak?” he quizzed.
Ayeh-Paye cautioned NPP members, particularly government officials and party communicators, to refrain from making comments that undermine the legacy of their own administration.
“If you use the word ‘soon,’ people will ask what kind of foundation you laid that you believe will lead to hardship. We should stop this.”
Owusu-Bempah’s Remarks
Owusu-Bempah had earlier claimed that Ghanaians would soon regret voting for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its leader, John Dramani Mahama, over the NPP’s Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the 2024 presidential elections.
Speaking on Oyerepa TV on December 23, 2024, Owusu-Bempah predicted severe economic difficulties and a return to intermittent power outages, popularly known as dumsor, under Mahama’s leadership.
“John Mahama will soon show Ghanaians ‘pepper.’ There will be dumsor coming soon in the energy sector—expect it. There will also be serious economic hardship. I’m prophesying. Under John Dramani Mahama, there will be nothing new under the sun,” Owusu-Bempah stated.
He further suggested that the Free SHS program might face funding challenges under the incoming administration.
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