Godwin Edudzi Tameklo is the CEO of the National Petroleum Authority

Acting CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has hit back at former Vice President and NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia over his recent comments dismissing the NDC’s role in the appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi.

Tameklo described Dr Bawumia’s remarks as dishonest and emblematic of the poor performance that led to his loss in the 2024 elections.

“When he says he doesn’t know what has been done, it is this level of dishonesty that earned him 41% in the 2024 election,” Tameklo said, criticising Dr Bawumia’s attempt to distance the NDC from any credit for the currency’s recent gains.

“When you have that kind of scorecard, what you do is to be sober and not to immediately put on a different cloth and begin to pontificate exoteric economic theories immediately.”

According to Tameklo, Dr Bawumia’s tenure as head of the economic management team left a troubling legacy, pointing to the cedi’s historic depreciation and skyrocketing inflation under his watch.

“You are known to be an economist; your boss Nana Akufo-Addo told us he is bringing you to come and give strength to the cedi. What happened? You left at the point where the cedi rose to GH¢17, inflation at a point went to 57%, this is your scorecard,” he said.

Tameklo suggested that Dr Bawumia’s recent posture was more about political survival than objective economic assessment.

“Dr Bawumia finds himself in a very tight corner. He needs to find a way to energise the base of the NPP and to also position himself that of all the men in the NPP, like they say of the worse, he is better than them because if not he should permanently keep quiet and allow Ato Forson, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to work the economy.”

His comments come in response to Dr Bawumia’s statement during an interaction with the Young Executive Forum (YEF) in London, where the former Vice President claimed the NDC has not implemented any policy responsible for the cedi’s appreciation.

“If you are to ask the NDC to point out exactly what policy they have implemented that has resulted in the appreciation of the cedi.

“They cannot tell you one that has been implemented, not sort of talked about, but actually implemented. They only passed their budget in March. They’ve not even issued any contracts and paid for anything, pretty much,” Dr Bawumia said.