A former National Organizer hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Henry Osei Akoto, has challenged the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to participate in a 'meet the press' session with Ghanaian media.

In a statement shared on Monday, July 8, 2024, Osei Akoto asserted that Vice President Bawumia would avoid such an engagement because it could jeopardize his campaign.

"If Bawumia tries any 'meet the press', his campaign will collapse. He won't dare," he wrote.

Osei Akoto's comments came following a press engagement by former President John Dramani Mahama, the NDC flagbearer, on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

During this event, Mahama outlined his proposed policies, including social intervention programs and measures to tackle corruption, aimed at revitalizing Ghana's development trajectory.

Below are the 20 key takeaways from the media engagement:

The 24-hour economy policy will increase the local production of goods for import substitution, exports, and create decent well-paying jobs for the youth.

My government will scrap the COVID levy, E-levy, bet winnings levy, and nuisance port levies to ameliorate the plight of suffering Ghanaians.

Free SHS has come to stay. No one can cancel it. I am coming to improve its implementation and make it better. I will support any bill intended to improve education in Ghana.

My government will invest $3 billion in ICT and partner with local tech start-ups and businesses to launch a 'Digital Jobs Initiative' that will create at least 300,000 skilled employment opportunities for the youth in the digital space.

I will establish a National Women’s Development Bank that will be run by women to support one million women-led and women-owned businesses.

I will roll out the One Million Coders Program that will train one million youth in coding and other IT programs for job creation.

I am a staunch Christian who has supported my local Assemblies of God church to build churches for God. But I don’t condone stealing in the name of God. I will conduct a forensic audit into the cathedral loot.

I will not allow any of my appointees to involve themselves in mining or illegal mining. Mining in forest reserves will be banned under my government.

No appointee of mine will be allowed to buy state assets.

I will prioritize fiscal discipline to restore investor confidence in the economy and pursue prudent measures that will boost cocoa and oil production to increase our forex earnings and stabilize the exchange rate.

I will fight corruption and ensure accountability on the part of government officials, whether they be NPP or NDC. I will not scrap the OSP. Neither will I be a corruption clearing agent.

I have been out of office for seven years, seven months. The NPP has not found any evidence of wrongdoing against me. Their lies against me to the effect that I own hotels in Dubai and that my government spent $10 million on presidential diaries have all been exposed. Don’t fall for the NPP’s lies.

My track record in the fight against corruption is there for all to see. I prosecuted my own appointees, including my own friend, and retrieved about GHS50 million for the state in the GYEEDA scandal.

I will run a lean government of not more than 60 ministers and cut down on government expenditure and waste.

I will create a safe and congenial atmosphere for the media and anti-corruption agencies to work.

I will pursue justice for the families of the eight Ghanaians who were murdered during the 2020 general elections and other victims of state-sponsored brutalities and punish the culprits.

I will modernize agriculture to boost food production to reduce food inflation and hardships. I will also prioritize agribusiness and agro-processing for import substitution and exports.

I have been exorcised from the 'father for all' syndrome.

We shall protect the votes of Ghanaians through vigilance.

Four years is enough for me to reset Ghana, create a 24-hour economy, wage a serious fight against corruption, and restore our nation back to the path of development and progress.