TARIFFS, TAXES, AND LIES: BAWUMIA THE HYPOCRITE At the 2025 IDU forum, former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia criticized the weaponization of trade, calling tariffs unsustainable and harmful to global trust. Citing the U.S.’s 8% exports vs. 14% imports and Africa’s 2.5% exports vs. 2.8% imports, he argued that trade policy should be guided by microeconomic balances, not tariffs. He promoted microeconomic balance and praised intra-African trade. But his own government’s actions directly contradict every one of these claims 1. Tariffs bring hardship — Yet he imposed the E-Levy and more taxes Bawumia criticized tariffs, yet introduced the E-Levy, which led to a 24% drop in mobile money use, hurting small businesses. His government also added import taxes like the COVID levy, raising the cost of trade. These are, in effect, the same trade barriers as tariffs. 2.We need balance, not tariffs — But his policies caused imbalance Though he blamed others for trade imbalance, his own government printed money, triggering over 130% cedi depreciation from 2021–2024, worsening Ghana’s trade deficit. Economic theory shows that printing money without production fuels inflation—exactly what occurred. 3. Support intra-continental trade — But his policies weakened Ghana’s AfCFTA position While calling for more African trade, his high transaction costs and tax burdens government made Ghana less competitive within the AfCFTA, discouraging regional commerce. 4. Trust is essential for trade — But his leadership broke trust He spoke of declining global trust, but his government’s inconsistent taxes, hidden borrowing, defended corruption, and economic mismanagement shook public confidence at home. Conclusion: Bawumia says one thing and does the opposite. His own record exposes him. A man who lacks consistency and integrity cannot be trusted to lead a nation. Ghana needs a leader whose actions match their words not speeches that mask failure.