Renowned Kumawood actor, Sylvester Agyapong, has openly criticized Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government over the growing economic hardships in the country.
In a post on the social media platform X, Agyapong took a direct swipe at the Vice President, questioning his recent campaign promises.
“You (Bawumia) brought all these taxes, and now you are campaigning against them. What is preventing you from throwing all these taxes away?” the actor wrote.
He went further to challenge Dr. Bawumia’s economic management, stating, “That if I take them off today, what am I going to take off tomorrow. Look at this. Such a speech coming from somebody who wants to lead this country. There is no job. Teachers and nurses are running away.”
Agyapong’s remarks came on the heels of the recent controversy surrounding taxes like the Electronic Transaction Levy (e-levy) and the betting tax. These policies, introduced under the NPP government, have been a focal point of criticism from many Ghanaians, who say they have worsened their financial situation.
While the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has consistently blamed Dr. Bawumia for these unpopular policies, Dr. Assibey Yeboah, Chairman of the NPP manifesto sub-committee on the economy, has defended the Vice President. In a media interview, Dr. Yeboah absolved Dr. Bawumia of responsibility, arguing that the Vice President, although head of the Economic Management Team, had expressed concerns about the implementation of these taxes but was overruled by the government’s collective decisions.
“Dr. Bawumia has been part of the government. In this manifesto, he said he will abolish the e-levy, he said he will abolish the betting tax. He didn’t run the show, so there are things in the manifesto that run contrary to what this government is doing. So if I have divergent views and I air them, is it criticising the government? No,” Dr. Yeboah explained.
He added that the Vice President’s campaign to repeal these taxes in the NPP’s 2024 manifesto is a reflection of his independent stance on managing the country’s tax system.
Despite this defense, Sylvester Agyapong’s comments reflect growing frustration among many Ghanaians, particularly in the entertainment industry, over the impact of government policies on their livelihoods. The actor’s bold critique has sparked discussions on social media, with many echoing his sentiments about the struggles faced by the average Ghanaian under the current administration.
As the 2024 elections draw closer, the debate over taxes and the country’s economic management continues to intensify, with Vice President Bawumia and the NPP government facing mounting pressure to address these concerns.