Former Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has questioned the electoral strength of former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, arguing that any other candidate would stand a better chance in a future presidential race.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on The Point of View with Bernard Avle, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said shifting political alliances around the Vice-President raise concerns about his strength as a candidate. He argued that individuals who initially backed Bawumia during earlier party processes have since withdrawn their support, a development he described as telling.
“If he was that strong, why are those who supported him now competing with him?” Prof. Frimpong-Boateng asked, suggesting the defections point to underlying weaknesses rather than routine political competition.
Challenged on whether his own presidential ambitions undermined his criticism, the former minister insisted his comments were rooted in principle. He said Ghana would have taken a markedly different path had he become president, stressing that leadership must be anchored in vision and integrity.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng outlined what he described as the essential qualities of presidential leadership, including moral courage, accountability and a willingness to act on evidence rather than convenience. He criticised what he sees as the prevalence of corruption, patronage and weak institutional oversight in governance.
According to him, a president must empower state institutions, sanction misconduct without fear or favour and demonstrate genuine commitment to national development. He concluded that these critical leadership attributes are currently lacking, warning that their absence poses long-term risks to Ghana’s democratic and developmental progress.