The 2024 elections have been touted as a direct contest between the major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia will lead the NPP. In contrast, former President John Dramani Mahama will lead the NDC for his fourth consecutive shot at the presidency.

Analysts have called for an issue-based campaign, tasking the two leaders and other contenders to sell their vision and mission to the electorate through public engagements long before their manifestoes are launched.

During his Building Ghana Tours, John Mahama made lots of policy-level statements; at the last count, the NDC published 60 of them, whereas Bawumia used his February 7 lecture to outline his vision.

Both men have addressed common issues, mainly diverging on a number of them but also converging on a few. GhanaWeb lists some of the issues that both candidates agree about.

Abolishing of specific taxes

Mahama is on record as having stated that he will abolish the E-Levy and betting tax, among others. He has also publicly stated that the NDC opposes a 15% VAT on electricity consumption. This tax measure has since been suspended.

Bawumia has also spoken along the same lines on the matter.

Free SHS relook

Mahama has consistently spoken about reviewing the Free Senior High School programme, even though the government maintains his position means a cancellation of the programme.

The government has, however, admitted to the IMF that it will review the programme as part of the terms of an ongoing bailout programme.

"Under my government, Free SHS will continue, and we will improve upon it," Bawumia declared on February 7.

TWI NEWS

Constitutional Review

Mahama has advanced the idea of a constitutional review, seeking to build on what his former boss, John Evans Atta Mills, started.

In his address, Bawumia said, "The current constitution was designed mainly for political stability, and it has achieved that. We need to amend it with the help of Parliament to align it more for national development.

"In that context, I am committed to the process to amend the 1992 Constitution through extensive public consultation, with key emphasis on issues such as ex-gratia, the rights of dual citizens, election of MMDCEs to deepen decentralization, and empowering institutions while reducing the power of the President."

Ex-gratia

On ex-gratia, Mahama has expressly stated that he will take legal steps to cancel it for members of the executive arm of government; Bawumia, on the other hand, as quoted above, will deal with it at the level of constitutional review.

Number of ministers

Mahama, since last year, stated that he would not have more than 60 ministers.

"Additionally, an efficient system of governance will require even fewer ministers. Therefore, I would have no more than 50 ministers and deputy ministers," the VP promised.

SARA

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