That, he said, was because the record of the NPP government in terms of performance in all sectors of the economy surpassed that of the previous administration.

Dr Bawumia threw the challenge when he addressed various stakeholders at the clubhouse of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) when he took his possibilities tour to the Tema Central, Tema East and Tema West Constituencies last Thursday to spread his message of “bold solutions” for the future.

 Data

He said as a man of data “I speak only with data and so when I say we have done better, I have the data to support it and this is why the former President does not want to debate me because he knows that he does not have the data.”

Dr Bawumia said former President Mahama could make statements on political platforms where nobody could challenge him but he could not make them in front of him.

“If you look at performance, we have done better whether it is agriculture, industry or jobs. We have created 2.1 million jobs, it is still not enough but that is more than any government in the history of the Fourth Republic.

“Whether it is roads, we have done better, whether it railway, we have done better, hospitals, interchanges, schools, sports facilities, court buildings there is no single area that you can point to that you will say the former government performed better,” the NPP Flag bearer pointed out.

Some of the issues raised by the stakeholders included the existence of numerous taxes, issues with the new shipping law and the Customs amended Act which the car dealers indicated was collapsing their businesses.

The freight forwarders also asked Dr Bawumia to pave the way so they met with his team to further explain his proposed tax amnesty and flat tax proposals to them.
Nurses also raised the issue of tax waivers for nurses, the exodus of nurses and the need for a special policy for nurses.

Responding, Dr Bawumia assured the freight forwarders of his support. He said with the Ghana card, the nurses car import waiver that was cancelled was back in his manifesto.

Meet and greet

Earlier, the NPP flag bearer, as part of his meet and greet interactions, visited the light industrial area and the Community Nine Market in the Tema Central Constituency where he endeared himself to the artisans and traders amid cheers.

He also addressed teeming party supporters at the forecourt of Club Felisa at Community Seven.

At Sakumono in the Tema West Constituency,  Dr Bawumia, in a trademark fashion, met traditional leaders, pastors, the Muslim clergy, chiefs among other groups and explained his policies to them.