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Tag: Dr Bawumia

  • Bawumia’s camp shuts down claim of intimidation by Alan Kyerematen

    Bawumia’s camp shuts down claim of intimidation by Alan Kyerematen

    The Technical Advisor at the Office of the Vice President, Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, has rejected the assertions made by Alan Kyerematen regarding the New Patriotic Party’s alleged use of intimidation tactics to secure support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during the party’s Super Delegates Conference.

    Dr. Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama, in response to Mr. Kyerematen’s claim that government appointees are endorsing a specific candidate due to job-related fears, has dismissed these allegations as unsubstantiated.

    During an interview with JoyNews on Wednesday, September 6, Dr. Mahama argued that if anyone were to raise concerns about intimidation, it should be in favor of Dr. Bawumia.

    “In 2007, when majority of government appointees were supporting Mr Alan Kyerematen, he still cited intimidation so for me if there’s any person who has had intimidations either direct or indirect, it’s the vice president who should be complaining,” he said.

    His statement comes in response to Mr. Kyerematen’s announcement on Tuesday, September 5, in which he withdrew from the party’s flagbearer race and cited several incidents that he believed marred the party’s Super Delegates Conference.

    The NPP flagbearer aspirant said that “After having carefully analysed the results of the said elections, it is absolutely clear to me from events leading to, during and after the elections, that the Special Delegates Conference was strategically and tactically skewed in favour of one particular aspirant.”

    The statement further said that pronouncements by some leading members of the party “both before and after the elections, also lend weight” to his observations.

    “The level of intimidation of varying intensity, directly and indirectly, unleashed on a significant number of Delegates at various Voting Centers across the sixteen regions, is unprecedented in the history of our Party,” Mr Kyerematen said.

    On the back of this, Dr Mahama labelled the former Trade and Industry Minister’s allegation as baseless and lacking factual support based on the election process.

    “So to suggest that any activist or supporter of any of the candidates has been intimidated will be untrue. There were several Members of Parliament who supported other candidates, especially Mr Alan Kyerematen and nothing happened to them.”

    “There were cabinet ministers of state who supported Mr Alan Kyerematen and nothing happened to them. There were CEOs who supported him and nothing happened to them, so to say that you have been threatened or your supporter has been threatened is to tell a lie and we must be bold enough to call out some of these things,” he said.

    He urged Mr Kyerematen to take responsibility and refrain from making complaints about intimidation during the NPP Super Delegates election.

  • NPP can break the 8 with Bawumia – Yendi MP

    NPP can break the 8 with Bawumia – Yendi MP

    Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Yendi Constituency, Farouk Aliu Mahama, has asserted that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia possesses a competitive advantage that could potentially help the New Patriotic Party (NPP) secure victory in the 2024 elections.

    In an interview on Citi FM on Friday, Farouk Aliu Mahama explained that since the Vice President Dr Bawumia has travelled the length and breadth of the country, he is abreast of the challenges facing Ghanaians and how to have them resolved.

    He said: “Bawumia is somebody who is very competent, someone who has gone through the country, who understands every problem in the country, understands the constituents, understands wherever we are coming from. And he is somebody who has that competitive advantage to rally all of us to lead us break the eight. And that is how come I have chosen Dr Bawumia.”

    “I am not looking at his religion or where he comes from. It also matters because it wipes off that perception that former President John Mahama keeps saying that Northerners are people that have been sidelined,” he stated.

    The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu, has made a prediction that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will emerge as the winner in the NPP’s presidential primaries, which are scheduled for November 4.

    Osei Owusu anticipates that Dr. Bawumia will secure over 68% of the votes from the Super Delegates’ Conference, following his impressive victory with 68.15% of the vote in a Special Delegates’ Conference held on August 26.

    Other contenders, including Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong and former Trades Minister Alan Kyerematen, received 14.30% and 10.29% of the votes, respectively, placing second and third.

    Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of the launch of Professor Kwesi Yankah’s book titled, “The Pen At Risk, Spilling My Little Beans”, the Bekwai MP stressed the Vice President’s imminent victory.

    He added that Dr Bawumia is the most popular candidate that Ghanaians yearn for to lead the country.

  • Joe Wise projects over 60% votes for Bawumia in NPP Primaries

    Joe Wise projects over 60% votes for Bawumia in NPP Primaries

    First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu, has expressed confidence that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will secure a resounding victory in the New Patriotic Party’s presidential primaries on November 4, particularly among the Super Delegates.

    Mr Osei Owusu anticipates that Dr. Bawumia will garner more than 68% of the vote in this critical party conference.

    Vice President Dr. Bawumia, who aspires to lead the NPP in the 2024 general elections, recently secured an impressive 68.15% of the vote in a Special Delegates’ Conference held on August 26.

    In that event, other strong contenders, including Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong and former Trades Minister Alan Kyerematen, secured 14.30% and 10.29% of the vote, respectively, placing them in second and third positions.

    Joseph Osei Owusu, speaking at the launch of Professor Kwesi Yankah’s book titled “The Pen At Risk, Spilling My Little Beans,” reiterated his belief in Vice President Dr. Bawumia’s imminent victory.

    “Five people were elected, which was the expected result, right? I’m surprised that the Vice President got a lower vote than we had expected. But there’s no doubt he will win. People are talking about a small number, but on the ground, he’s even more popular than the party’s people. Among them, Dr. Bawumia is more popular than anyone else. They love him. I come to my constituency, and every day people love him.”

    “For me, representing them, I have no choice but to vote for him. It’s not just about us, but the people on the ground, in the communities, and in constituencies, they love him. At the very least, he will come with the same margin he won, but we expect it to be more.”

    Joseph Osei Owusu also refuted allegations of vote-buying made by certain factions supporting other aspirants.

    “In the days when I was growing up, if you made an allegation, you went out to look for evidence to support it. So it’s all about people saying, ‘Oh, these people gave out money.’ But nobody has provided any evidence, no substance. And it’s a real pity. It’s most unbecoming of the contestants and their supporters to be throwing out allegations which are not substantiated.”

  • It is game over for those competing against Bawumia – Kwadaso MP

    It is game over for those competing against Bawumia – Kwadaso MP

    Member of Parliament for Kwadaso constituency, Dr. Kingsley Nyarko, has entreated the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirants with the exception of Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to throw in the towel.

    The other four presidential aspirants are Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, former Agric Minister, Dr Afriyie Akoto and former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimoh.

    In an interview on Hello FM, Dr. Kingsley Nyarko noted that none of the contenders can be compared to Dr Bawumia when it comes to support from the grassroot.

    He further argued that the results of the just-ended Super Delegates Conference is testament to the Vice President’s vast support.

    He therefore submitted that the four contenders brace themselves for defeat at the party’s primaries slated for November 4 and must not be moved by false reports by political pundits.

    “I heard some political pundits say that those who placed second, third can win November 4. Those political pundits they have to be realistic, they have to say the truth to the candidates that the game is over. They have to be bold. Nothing will change.,” he said.

    Dr Mahamudu Bawumia won the super delegates conference on August 26, with a total of 629 votes, representing 68.15% of the total valid votes.

    Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong came in second with 132 votes, or 14.30% while former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen placed third with 95 votes, or 10.29%.

    Following the tie between Boakye Agyarko and Francis Addai-Nimoh, a run-off election was to be held for both of them on Saturday, September 2, 2023, to decide which of them would join the primaries, but Mr Agyarko has withdrawn from the race, citing legal breaches by the leadership of the party.

  • Dr Bawumia sings gospel music all the time – Spokesperson reveals

    Dr Bawumia sings gospel music all the time – Spokesperson reveals

    Economist and spokesperson for Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr Gideon Boako, has disclosed the genre of music that Dr Bawumia loves most.

    During a media run on Dr Bawumia’s presidential campaign, Dr Boako, who was on Peace FM’s morning show Kokrokoo with Kwame Sefa Kayi, said that Dr Bawumia’s musical preference reflects his personality.

    “Recently I said in an interview with Umaru Sanda that Dr Bawumia’s favourite genre of music is gospel music. He sings it all the time,” he said.

    He recalled an incident between Dr Bawumia and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, where Dr Bawumia impressed the moderator by singing word for word some Presby hymns during an event.

    “There was a time when the Presby moderator said that he attended an event where Dr Bawumia was present, and they happened to be seated close to each other. As they sang some Presby hymns, he realised that Dr Bawumia had sung along to all the hymns correctly. He wondered how a Muslim could properly sing Presby hymns in such a manner. And Dr Bawumia responded and said, ‘Oh, do not be surprised, my mother was a Methodist before she became a Muslim’,” Dr Boako recounted.

    According to Dr Boako, such traits displayed by Dr Bawumia, his love for God and his unbiased respect for everyone, are characteristics that have been with him since childhood and are verifiable by all who have known him over the years.

    “All positive comments about Dr Bawumia are not coming out of the blue. It is an attitude he has exhibited since childhood and throughout his professional life up to this point. Everybody in this country knows that Dr Bawumia is God-fearing and humble.

    He respects everyone no matter who they are, in everything he does. Those who know him from his childhood days and know his history know that he is a respectful and humble person who likes unifying people,” Dr Boako added.

    The Vice President’s spokesperson then advised all Ghanaians as well as members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to develop or encourage a culture of unity just as Dr Bawumia does, for the sole benefit of the country’s development.

    “And so that attitude of unity and peace is what we need, so we can be unified as a country first of all, and as a party, New Patriotic Party (NPP) members, so that when we gain power again, God will give us wisdom to rule the nation. And so Dr Bawumia’s campaign is going on very well.”

    Dr Bawumia is contesting for the position of flagbearer for the NPP in the upcoming general election in 2024. As part of efforts to boost his campaign, his team has launched a website under the name bawumia.com, where all information about his campaign is published.

    Alternatively, supporters and well-wishers can get the same service by downloading the app Bawumia Connect from any app store service. Also, those who would like to send in donations to help fund the campaign can do so by dialling the short code *202# on any network.

  • Team Bawumia launches *202# for supporters to contribute to campaign

    Team Bawumia launches *202# for supporters to contribute to campaign

    Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign team has unveiled a strategic approach that centers around a “strong signal” and three key avenues of connection.

    The move comes as the internal political landscape in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) heats up in anticipation of its presidential primaries.

    The campaign team has identified that the “strong signal” aims to convey the Vice President’s commitment to leading the nation with determination, vision, and unwavering dedication.

    According to sources close to the campaign, this signal also represents Dr Bawumia’s firm resolve to address pressing national issues and steer the country towards prosperity.

    To effectively reach and engage a diverse range of constituents, the campaign team has outlined ways to connect by dailing *202# to contribute to Bawumia’s campaign.

    The Vice President’s campaign team believes that this strong signal will enable them to effectively communicate his agenda and build a broad base of support ahead of the presidential primaries and subsequently the 2024 general elections.

  • Oppong-Nkrumah backs Bawumia as NPP flagbearer

    Oppong-Nkrumah backs Bawumia as NPP flagbearer

    Minister of Information Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has thrown his weight behind Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia’s aspiration to become the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming 2024 elections.

    He expressed his respect for Dr Bawumia‘s significant contributions to the party over the years during an event in his district that was captured on camera and uploaded on Twitter.

    Describing Bawumia as a steadfast pillar of the NPP, Nkrumah highlighted the vice president’s unwavering commitment to defending the party whenever it faces challenges. He also commended Bawumia’s humility and dedicated approach to party matters.

    “Today, I want to share something with you. Ever since I became acquainted with Dr. Bawumia in 2008 when he was at the Bank of Ghana and I was at Joy FM, and throughout our political journey, I have silently learned some invaluable lessons from him.”

    “Whenever the party finds itself under attack, Dr. Bawumia consistently steps forward to shield it, even at the risk of facing personal criticisms. His commitment to this cause has been unwavering.”

    Nkrumah went on to underscore the principle of reciprocating good with good, emphasizing the significance of acknowledging Bawumia’s dedication and contributions to the NPP. He stressed that Bawumia’s devoted service to the party merits support rather than opposition.

    Citing Proverbs 17:13, Nkrumah quoted, “Whoever repays evil for good, evil will never depart from their house. So, if Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been beneficial to us, should we respond with negativity?”

    He further stated, “In this month, our Chairman and I will cast our votes for him (Dr. Bawumia), and come November, delegates from Ofoase Ayirebi will wholeheartedly support Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.”

    Dr. Bawumia is among ten contenders vying for the flagbearership slot, with prominent figures such as former trade minister Alan Kyerematen and Kennedy Agyapong considered his key rivals.

    Following the vetting stage, the NPP will narrow down the ten candidates to five in a preliminary vote scheduled for August. The final contest is set for November 2023, where the party will elect a successor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the party’s leader.

  • We need a united front to fight NDC – Bawumia to presidential aspirants

    We need a united front to fight NDC – Bawumia to presidential aspirants

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has charged his nine contenders in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential race not to lose focus of their goal in contesting for the flagbearership position.

    According to the Vice President, the objective is for the NPP to beat the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) come December 7, 2024, hence all should work in unity irrespective of the outcome of the party’s primaries in November this year.

    “As a family, all factions must recognize that a united front is necessary to confront the NDC,” Dr. Bawumia stated in Kumasi during a campaign tour to party delegates.

    To ensure disunity does not rear its ugly head after the NPP primaries, the Vice President has entreated all presidential aspirants to thread carefully while campaigning.

    He advised against the use of ill words and strategies that wreak of malice.

    Depicting the adage that ‘Charity begins at home’, he said: “I have instructed all my supporters and spokespersons that we must conduct a clean campaign, avoiding any form of insults.”

    The NPP is scheduled to elect its flagbearer for the 2024 elections on November 4.

    Ten flagbearer hopefuls have been cleared to participate in the upcoming elections.

    The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has completed the balloting for its ten presidential aspirants for the super delegates conference slated for August 26.

    The balloting came off on Wednesday, July 26, at a meeting which sought to address the concerns of aspirants about the impending election.

    On the ballot, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong appears first, followed by former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen in the second position.

    Essikado-Ketan MP Joe Ghartey comes in at number three, Energy Expert Kwadwo Poku at number four, while Dr Afriyie Akoto, former Minister for Food and Agriculture will take the fifth position.

    Also, former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong will be sixth on the ballot, Former member of Parliament for Mampong Constituency Addai Nimo takes the seventh slot followed by former Trade Minister Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku at number eight. Mr. Boakye Agyarko, a former Energy Minister is at number nine and lastly, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is at number 10.

  • We shall not exchange Bawumia for anyone else – Takoradi MP

    We shall not exchange Bawumia for anyone else – Takoradi MP

    Member of Parliament for Takoradi Constituency, Kobby Okyere Darko-Mensah, has firmly stated that the delegates of his constituency are resolute in their support for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer.

    He emphasized that no other aspirant would be chosen by the delegates while Dr. Bawumia is in the race, making it clear that they will settle for nothing less than his leadership.

    He made this known during the visit of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to the Takoradi Constituency,

    “Those of us on the ground and working with the grassroots know that Dr Bawumia is the one who has cared about us all these years. We will not exchange him for anyone” he stated.

    Dr Bawumia at Takoradi Constituency

    He also indicated that several other factors have accounted for their choice in Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s candidate for the 2024 elections which include his competence, humility, integrity, incorruptibility, etc.

    Hon. Kobby Mensah also mentioned the fact that Dr. Bawumia is someone one can easily reason with, and that is a factor that endears the Vice President to many of the party’s members.

    “Dr. Bawumia is someone we can reason with, Dr. Bawumia is humble so I am urging you, he knows the power of power, the power of using power to raise people up, the power of power to make sure that Ghana would be better”

    The Vice President began his campaign tour in the Western Region on Sunday, July 23, 2023, where he met delegates of Takoradi and Effia Constituencies.

  • Bawumia’s camp denies allegations of Islamic funding for the Vice President

    Bawumia’s camp denies allegations of Islamic funding for the Vice President

    The campaign team of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has refuted claims that their flagbearer hopeful is being funded by some Islamic group in Nigeria called the ACF.

    In a communique issued by the team’s Communications Directorate, they noted that such falsehood is being peddled by a Nigerian journalist, David Humdeyin.

    Apparently, the same narrative, the team says, has been copied by some persons and groups in Ghana on social media.

    For the Vice President’s campaign team, such reportage is unfortunate as “Dr Bawumia has no funding or any linkage with any Islamic group in Nigeria or anywhere else.”

    “This narrative is obviously false, fabricated, and only serves the propaganda purposes of its promoters,” the circular added.

    The team asserts that David Humdeyin has demonstrated a penchant for making similar claims against some persons and groups in Nigeria without any basis whatsoever.

    They have therefore entreated to disregard such reports since “Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been very diligent and transparent from his days as a scholar, banker, and politician throughout his life and will not depart from these now and forever.”


  • Don’t attack candidates who insult me – Dr Bawumia to NPP supporters

    Don’t attack candidates who insult me – Dr Bawumia to NPP supporters

    Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has emphasized the significance of conducting a clean and respectful campaign In the midst of the escalating New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership race.

    Speaking to devoted party members on Tuesday, Dr. Bawumia stressed that once the contest concludes, it is imperative for the party to unite as a cohesive force to prevent the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from returning to power.

    Dr. Bawumia firmly asserted that the internal competition should not become acrimonious thus his supporters and spokespersons should not to engage in retaliatory measures against aspirants who launch attacks against him.

    Dr Bawumia stressed that as a family, it is crucial for all factions to recognise that a united front was necessary to confront the “main enemy,” which is the NDC.

    “I have instructed all my supporters and spokespersons that we must conduct a clean campaign, avoiding any form of insults.”

    “We are one family, and we must remain united. Once the contest concludes, we will come together as a cohesive force to ensure the NDC does not return to power.”

    The NPP will elect its flagbearer for the 2024 elections on November 4. 

    So far, all 10 flagbearer hopefuls have been cleared to contest in the upcoming elections. 

    The party disclosed this in a press release issued on Wednesday, July 12.

    According to the press statement, the Prof Mike Oquaye Vetting Committee approved all 10 candidates after vetting them individually.

    The General Secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong said the Committee made this known in their report pursuant to Article 10(3) of the NPP constitution.

  • Dr Bawumia hosts Kudus, Blessing Shine at his residence after Ghana Football Awards wins

    Dr Bawumia hosts Kudus, Blessing Shine at his residence after Ghana Football Awards wins

    On June 28, 2023, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia welcomed Black Stars midfielder Mohammed Kudus and Black Queens striker Blessing Shine Agbomadzi to his residence during the Eid festivities.

    The Vice President hosted them in recognition of their achievements at the recently concluded Ghana Football Awards gala night.

    Also in attendance were Black Stars winger Kalmadeen Sulemana, whose goal against Liverpool was nominated for Goal of the Year, and some Board Members of the Ghana Football Awards.

    During the event, Kudus was honored as the Footballer of the Year, highlighting his exceptional performances for both his club and country.

    Blessing Shine Agbomazi was also recognized as the Women’s Footballer of the Year due to her outstanding contributions to ASFAR of Morocco, where she secured the Champions League and domestic titles.

    Vice President Dr. Bawumia extended his congratulations to Kudus Mohammed and Blessing Agbomazi, urging them to continue their pursuit of success.

    He also commended all the winners of the 2023 Ghana Football Awards and pledged his support for the program in the future.

    Reacting on his official and verified social media handles, Dr Bawumia wrote,
    “I welcomed to my residence, Black Stars players, Kudus Mohammed and Kamaldeen Sulemana, as well as Black Queens’ Blessing Shine Agbomadzi, as my guests during the Eid festivities.

    I took the opportunity to congratulate Mohammed Kudus and Blessing Shine Agbomadzi, who were recently crowned male and female Footballer of the Year at the Ghana Football Awards. Also present were some officials of the Awards.

    The inspiring journey of Kudus, Kamaldeen and Blessing, from obscurity on our local streets, to the top level of international football, indicates that with the right investment and approach at the grassroot level, many young, talented Ghanaian footballers will realise their full potentials.

    Good luck to Kudus, Kamaldeen, and Blessing all professional Ghanaian footballers ahead of the new football season.”

    Board Chairman of the Ghana Football Awards scheme, Karl Tufuoh, thanked the Vice President for his warm reception and his interest to see football and sports grow in the country.

    He also promised that the organizers of the awards scheme will continue to improve so footballers and football stakeholders who are making giant strides in the sport can be fittingly recognized and celebrated.

    Established in 2018 to project Ghanaian football excellence and recognise Ghanaian footballers and other stakeholders for their achievements at home and around the globe, the Ghana Football Awards has become the most anticipated event on the football calendar.

  • Supporters of Bawumia throng NPP headquarters as he files nomination forms

    Supporters of Bawumia throng NPP headquarters as he files nomination forms

    Supporters of Bawumia have thronged the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) headquarters in Asylum Down as he files his nomination forms today, Friday June 16, 2023.

    Key party officials, including former Vice Chairman Fred Oware and former National Organiser Sammy Awuku, collected the forms on behalf of Dr Bawumia earlier last month.

    Alan Kyerematen, one of the key contenders, submitted his forms on Monday.

    Over the past few months, Dr Bawumia has engaged in extensive consultations regarding his aspiration to contest for the NPP’s flagbearer position.

    He held meetings with the Majority Caucus in Parliament, the Party’s Council of Elders, as well as various traditional and religious leaders to announce his intentions to lead the NPP after President Akufo-Addo’s tenure in 2025.

    The NPP leadership opened nominations for the Presidential Primaries on May 26, 2023, and the process will close on June 24, 2023.

    Currently, ten presidential aspirants, including Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Kennedy Agyapong, Joe Ghartey, and Kwabena Adjei Agyapong, have picked up nomination forms to compete for the NPP’s flagbearer position.

    The NPP plans to hold a Special Delegates Congress on August 26, 2023, to select the top five presidential aspirants.

    These top five candidates will then compete on December 4, 2023, to secure the party’s flagbearer slot and subsequently lead the party in the 2024 general elections.

  • It is Bawumia’s season not Alan – Annoh-Dompreh

    It is Bawumia’s season not Alan – Annoh-Dompreh

    Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has stated that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will emerge victorious in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential race leading up to the 2024 general elections.

    He stated that politics is defined by times and seasons therefore this is the time for Dr Bawumia to lead the NPP as flagbearer and subsequently lead the country as president.

    Speaking to the media on Wednesday, June 14, the Nsawam Adaogyiri lawmaker said about 119 of the Majority Members of Parliament support Dr Bawumia to be flagbearer.

    “As at the last count we were doing over 119 MPs, some have whispered into my ears, some have shown it openly, and that is how it looks. I am praying that it gets better.”

    He added “This is not Alan’s time, this is Dr Bawumia’s time. Politics is season and time, if you are not careful you will get it wrong. Look at the US, President Biden himself, look at all the processes he went through but today he is the president. People say Alan was closer in the last primaries we held so reasonably he will take over but the dynamism of leadership and politics should let them know that the narrative has changed.

    “It is Dr Bawumia’s time, nobody can change it except God. We respect all the people who are seeking to lead our party. The fact of the matter is, I have been on the grounds, I have been to all the regions, if the primaries is conducted today Dr Bawumia will win, Alan cannot beat Bawumia.

    “I am not a novice in this game, I have done grassroots mobilization all up to his time, if a win is coming I can see it and I can feel it. Even in the special delegates conference Dr Bawumia will not win with less than 70 percent of the special delegates’ conference. We have done our work and we are still working.”

    Meanwhile Dr Bawumia has said he would file his nomination forms on Friday, June 16 to enable him to contest in the presidential race of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    In a tweet, he said “Dear Friends, God willing tomorrow, Friday 16 June, I shall file my nomination forms and contest the @NPP_GH Presidential Primary. It is possible.”

    He picked up the forms on Tuesday, May 30.

    The forms were picked on his behalf by former Vice Chairman of the NPP, Fred Oware and former National Organiser Sammy Awuku.

    The NPP opened nominations for its flagbearer elections on Friday, May 26.

    The nominations will close on Saturday, June 24, according to a press release issued on Thursday, May 25.

    “Consequently, an Aspiring Presidential Candidate shall obtain the Nomination Forms after payment of a non-refundable nomination fee of Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢50, 000.00) only, through a Banker’s Draft,” the statement said.

  • Ghana to save $4.8bn annually from gold for oil policy

    Ghana to save $4.8bn annually from gold for oil policy

    Vice President Dr. Bawumia has indicated the Gold for Oil policy which has contributed to exchange rate stability is projected to save the country approximately $4.8 billion annually.

    Speaking at the 2023 energy sector retreat, the Vice President made the projection.

    Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh who was also present emphasized that the Ministry of Energy’s diligent monitoring of every aspect of the Gold for Oil value chain to ensure that the program’s objectives are successfully achieved without compromise.

    Both leaders have assured that the government is fully committed to ensuring Ghana reaps maximum advantages from the program.

    The Gold for Oil policy has been credited as one of the measures that have led to stable fuel prices.

    The Head of Financial Markets at the Bank of Ghana, Steven Opata, said the government’s policy had resulted in increased competition among traders of refined petroleum products, leading to reductions in prices at the pumps.

    As a result of the implementation of the policy, petroleum prices, which hovered averagely at GH¢15 in January 2023, now sells at about GH¢12 on the average and are expected to further go down in the coming months.

    As of May 29, 2023, the price of gasoline in Ghana was GH¢13.2 per litre, roughly $1.19, indicating a decrease from the prices in December 2022 .

    The implementation of the Gold for Oil programme commenced with the arrival of the first consignment of about 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel on January 15, 2023, valued at about $40 million.

    The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in a statement said the prime objective of the programme is to use additional foreign exchange resources from the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase programme to provide foreign currency for the importation of petroleum products for the country which currently stands at about $350 million per month.

    Payment for oil supply is to be done in two channels: by way of barter trade where gold is exchanged for oil or via broker channel where the gold is converted into cash and paid to the supplier.

    The first consignment of 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel constitutes about 10 percent of the country’s combined monthly demand for petrol and diesel.

    According to the NPA, the plan is to gradually increase imports under the programme to constitute about 50 per cent of the country’s total demand for petrol and diesel.

    The implementation of the programme will ease pressure on the dollar (the currency used for the importation of petroleum products) and avoid the occasional increases in petroleum prices resulting from the depreciation of the cedi against the dollar.

    In addition, the programme will ensure that the cost of importing the products from international oil traders will be comparatively cheaper.

  • Bawumia mourns cured leper, Daari Pogo

    Bawumia mourns cured leper, Daari Pogo

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is grieving the death of Madam Daari Pogo, whom he helped with accommodation after news on her challenges broke.

    85-year-old Madam Daari Pogo, a cured leper, is reported to have passed on today, May 31, 2023.

    She got acquainted with the Vice President in September 2020 after the media reported her deplorable conditions in Gurungu Motori in the Wa West Municipality.

    The Vice President intervened and provided her with a 2-bedroom house.

    Dr Bawumia was deeply touched by Madam Daari Pogo’s plight since her only saviour was her granddaughter Adjara.

    It is currently unknown what transpired between the Vice President and Madam Daari Pogo for the past three years, but the assertion is that, Dr Bawumia continued to ensure she was well taken care of.

    In a Facebook post announcing the death of Madam Daari Pogo, Dr Bawumia noted that although he is saddened by the event, he remains fulfilled for being able to bring happiness to the octogenarian during her last years.

    “I have received with sadness, the death of my 85-year-old friend, Madam Daari Pogo, a cured leper, whose deplorable conditions in Gurungu Motori in the Wa West Municipality became a national conversation and I provided her with a 2-bedroom house. I thank God for being able to put a smile on her face in the last years of her life,” he wrote.

    “May Madam Daari’s soul rest in peace,” the Vice President prayed.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Govt to replace textbooks with laptops in SHSs by end of the year

    Govt to replace textbooks with laptops in SHSs by end of the year

    The Ministry of Education, under the direction of the government, has unveiled a plan to introduce laptops as a replacement for traditional textbooks in Senior High Schools nationwide.

    This initiative, announced by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during the 60th Anniversary celebration of Hohoe Evangelical Presbyterian Senior High School, aims to enhance teaching and learning by equipping students with digital resources.

    According to Dr. Bawumia, the laptops will come preloaded with textbooks and other relevant educational materials, ensuring that students have access to a comprehensive range of resources during their lessons.

    The implementation of this program is scheduled to take place before the end of 2023.

    “If this country must move forward in the right direction, we must invest in education which is the only platform for preparing nation builders for tomorrow.

    “The Minister for Education has also assured me that this year, we’ll start the replacement textbooks with laptops that have textbooks embedded in Senior high Schools,” he said on Saturday.

    This new initiative comes after the government launched the One-teacher One-laptop project on Friday, September 3, 2021.

    The programme was meant to give Senior High School teachers modern materials to facilitate teaching and learning and as of December 11, 2021, Ghana Education Service reported that 80% of laptops meant for teachers had been distributed.

  • Govt must be transparent about ongoing ‘dumsor’ – Minority

    Govt must be transparent about ongoing ‘dumsor’ – Minority

    Government must come clear on the current on-going load shedding for Ghanaians, according to minority in parliament.

    According to the Minority, they have observed with serious concern, the recent persistent power outages also known as ‘dumsor’ being witnessed across the country, particularly during peak hours.

    “This appears to be worsening with many parts of the country experiencing long hours of darkness without prior notice to consumers.

    “While most Ghanaians have been witnessing intermittent power outages, others have been experiencing low currents and occasional high voltage leading to damages of their electrical gadgets and equipment in some cases,” the Ranking Member on Mines and Energy Committee, John Abdulai Jinapor stated in press release .

    He continued: “It is a well known fact especially, amongst energy sector players that the current outages the country is experiencing is due to gas shortages coupled with serious challenges with the procurement of alternative fuels due the precarious financial state of the Energy sector SOEs.

    “Most of the Energy sector SOEs have continued to witness worsening financial positions since the assumption of office of President Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia, despite their administration receiving over 20 billion cedis in ESLA revenues and about 40 billion cedis in petroleum revenues.

    He stated that more disturbing is the deliberate decision by Government communicators and Energy Sector SOEs to keep mute whilst the ordinary Ghanaian is made to experience this avoidable state of load shedding.

    “We therefore call on Government and responsible government agencies to come clean on the current state of power outages as a matter of urgency and provide a schedule if need be to enable the ordinary consumer and industry to plan and avoid damages of their electrical equipment.”

  • Prudent, Patient, Purposeful – What Rev. Eastwood Anaba said about Bawumia in 2018

    Prudent, Patient, Purposeful – What Rev. Eastwood Anaba said about Bawumia in 2018

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has received massive endorsement in his bid to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 elections.

    He has been described as a man of integrity and substance by the rank and file of the party and those not affiliated with the NPP.

    For many, his win is assured due to his cordial relationship with both Christians and Muslims. This, has however led to the Vice President being accused of feigning love for the Christian community and vice versa.

    But this not the case as research shows that some men of God as far back as 2018, extoled Dr Bawumia for his good virtues.

    Preacher and Founder of Fountain Gate Chapel Rev. Eastwood Anaba described Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as a man who is patient, prudent and purposeful.

    At a 31st December night service in 2018, Rev. Eastwood Anaba could not hold back his administration and praises for the Vice President who was present at the service to climax the year 2018 and usher in 2019.

    “I was thinking about him and I said how can I describe this man; and one scripture came to mind. 1st Samuel 16:18 came to mind, which reads ‘Behold I have seen the son of (Bawumia), that is astute in playing, and a mighty valiant man, a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person and the Lord (is with) him’.

    He added that “When I read this scripture, it is like I have taken a piece of fabric and sown a nice garment and fitted it on our Vice President from the crown of his head to his feet. I said this is the description that aptly describes the man”.

    In what was prescribed as a prophesy on the life and future of the Vice President in the ensuing year, Rev. Eastwood said “First of all we have in the Vice President of Ghana a prudent man; no question about that. A patient man. Anybody who can stay in opposition and remain faithful in opposition until he gains position is a patient man. And if u look at the way his training and mere passion for life drives him, you would know he is also a purposeful man”.

  • Bawumia calls for support from NPP MPs ahead of elections

    Bawumia calls for support from NPP MPs ahead of elections

    The majority chief whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has stated that the vice president Dr Mahamadu Bawumia has called for support from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) members of parliament (MPs) ahead of elections.

    Mr Annoh-Dompreh described the action of the vice president as a respect for the NPP lawmakers.

    He expressed the appreciation on behalf of the Majority to Dr Bawumia.

    For & on behalf of the Majority Caucus, I wish to express our profound gratitude for the numerous support and particularly your wonderful show of respect to us by your decision to seek for our blessings as you decide to lead our great party towards the 2024 General elections.. pic.twitter.com/FgRWoku6f0

— Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh (@FAnnohDompreh) May 3, 2023

    In a tweet, the Nsawam Adoagyiri Lawmaker said “For and on behalf of the Majority Caucus, I wish to express our profound gratitude for the numerous support and particularly your wonderful show of respect to us by your decision to seek for our blessings as you decide to lead our great party towards the 2024 General elections.”

    Mr Annoh-Dompreh earlier said that Dr Bawumia was the man for the job.

    In a tweet ahead of the Dr Bawumia’s address at the Harvard University, he said “(He) is the man for the job.”

  • Bawumia boasts of increased Immigration Service officers

    Bawumia boasts of increased Immigration Service officers

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed that in a span of six years, the ruling government has increased the number of officers in the Immigration Service by 11,450.

    As a Special Guest of Honour at the passing out ceremony for the Narcotics Control Commission’s Cadet Intake 7 held at the Ghana Immigration Training School, Assin Foso, on April 28, he revealed that in 2017, the Immigration Service had a total staff of 2,850 officers.

    As of now, the number stands at 14,300. He noted that the increased number has been accompanied with “increased training, accommodation and other facilities.”

    “By contrast, in the 8 years before we came into office the number of people recruited into the Immigration service was less than 500 in total,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the Vice President advised the new recruits to adhere to the principles of hard work, patriotism and integrity in the execution of their duties.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • NPP primaries: Kofi Bentil rallies behind Dr Bawumia

    Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil has indicates that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is the best choice as the next president of Ghana.

    According to him, the vice president has put his best foot forward amongst the number of individuals who have expressed interest in the presidency ahead of the 2024 election. 

    “You may say I’m biased, but this is the reason why!! 

    This week of all the people running for President, the greatest stuff I heard was from DMB [Dr Mahamudu Bawumia]. 

    “Read and see if you agree! 

    “You see, we have to pick Someone to run this town. 

    “For now I still think he’s the best. 

    “If I find a better one I promise I will tell you,” the vice president of IMANI stated in a Facebook post. 

    His statement was in reaction to the address delivered by the vice president at the African Development Conference held recently at the Harvard Law School in the United Kingdom. 

    Speaking on the topic “Reimagining Africa’s Growth on our Terms: Lessons from Ghana’s Digitalisation Story,” Dr Bawumia advocated the need for Africa to deal with its challenges in order to earn a voice at the global table. 

    According to Kofi Bentil, the vice president’s address was not mere words as it outlines the visions of government under Dr Bawumia.

    “I already see people commenting that it’s only words. Yes. I believe God created the earth with words. Everything starts from declarations. Where is the one you prefer, where are his words? I want to hear all of them,” he noted. 

    Ahead of Ghana’s next presidential elections, the two main political parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party and the opposition National Democratic Congress are gearing up to elect their flagbearers. 

    Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has emerged as a frontrunner in the NPP race, having received wide endorsements from within and outside of his party. 

    On the NDC front, former President John Dramani Mahama who is regarded by some members of his party as the presumptive flagbearer is in the lead ahead of the party’s May 13, congress.

  • Bawumia likely to declare presidential bid

    Bawumia likely to declare presidential bid

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has not declared his presidential ambition, however, his most recent post on social media suggests that he may do so shortly.

    On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, the Vice President wrote “It is Possible!’, posting with the Ghana flag and the flag of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on all his social media pages.

    This statement is ambiguous however some social media users are reading meaning into it. They believe this is a subtle way of indicating his interest in the NPP flagbearership race.

    Dr. Bawumia is widely tipped to win the NPP flagbearership race, which is scheduled to kick off next month, with the flagbearership election slated for November this year.

    Mr Sammi Awuku, currently the Director General of the National Lottery Authority, has thrown his weight behind Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

    In an interview on Asempa FM on Monday, April 3, 2023, monitored by The Independent Ghana, Mr Awuku explained that his support for the Vice President stems from the worth-emulating values Dr Bawumia possesses. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is a very strong, tolerant and open- minded young man, he said.

    “He looks into the future with courage and optimism. I’m fond of him.

    “I asked him two critical questions:  Why do you want to be president? He told me his major focus if he should ever become President one day is how to create a future of opportunities for young people,” Mr Awuku said.

    The 38-year-old who played a vital role in mobilizing the youth leading to NPP’s victory in the 2016 general election further lauded the Veep for his unified spirit and sacrifices made for the party.

    “That politics of inclusion for me is something that is admirable. I’ve watched him move with people who had supported other candidates in the past. Someone like Fredrick Opare Ansah. Day in and day out, you see new people around him,” he stated.

    Mr Awuku noted that it took bravery and discipline to come up against the legal team of the National Democratic Congress in the 2020 election petition case at the Supreme Court for eight months without losing one’s composure.

    “For somebody, to sit there when it mattered most to defend his party’s position and resolve for 8 months continuously and facing the NDC legal team is not easy. Lawyers Tsatsu Tsikata, Tony Lithur – deadly combination with Baasit Bamba. For 8 months he (Dr Bawumia) never lost his cool. He had his composure and defended the NPP’s position.”

    According to him, “if the NPP opens nomination, and his Excellency the Vice President says he will run, I (will support him),” adding that “I think he will make a great president.”

    The NLA boss has however entreated the Vice President to brace himself for intense “grilling” should he decide to declare his presidential ambition.

    In his view, this is because “he (would) compete against strong and capable people in the party.”

    Former Trade Minister, John Alan Kyerematen, former Agric Minister, Dr Afriyie Akoto, former Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko, Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Presidential Spokesperson and General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyepong,  former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Joe Ghartey, who is also the MP for Essikado-Ketan; a former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh, and a former Minister of State, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, who is also a former MP for Offinso North, have all declared their intention to contest for the NPP presidential primaries to help break the 8-year-cycle.

    The ruling party has announced that nominations for the Presidential primaries will open on May 26, 2023 and close on June 24, 2023.

    On November 4, 2023, the NPP would hold its National Congress to elect its flagbearer for the next polls.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • NPP to elect Akufo-Addo’s successor on November 4

    NPP to elect Akufo-Addo’s successor on November 4

    The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has slated November 2023 for its congress to elect a flagbearer who will lead it into the 2024 polls

    This decision was arrived at after a crunched closed-door meeting of the National Council of the party Monday evening at Alisa Hotel in Accra, MyNewsGh.com has confirmed.

    The decision is in line with Article 12 of the party’s election guidelines on electing a presidential candidate.

    It states that “The election of the Party’s Presidential Candidate shall be held not later than twenty-four (24) months from the date of the national election. The date and venue for the election shall be decided by the National Council, provided, however, that the National Council may, on an appropriate occasion, vary the date…”

    Clause 2 of the article further indicates that “Not later than six (6) months prior to the holding of the election, the General Secretary shall give notice inviting applications from Members for nomination as the Party’s candidate to contest for the office of the President of the Republic.

    The Notice shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in the Party’s Constituency, Regional and National Offices and shall specify the closing date for application, which shall not be more than five (5) months to the holding of the election…”

    Meanwhile, there will be a special Congress that will be held in August ahead of the flagbearer elections.

  • Bawumia to be joined by 90 NPP MPs at Manhyia for Akwasidae

    Bawumia to be joined by 90 NPP MPs at Manhyia for Akwasidae

    The vast majority of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)-affiliated MPs will attend one of the largest Asante celebrations, Akwasidae, in Kumasi with Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been invited to the event, which is being hosted by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace.

    About 90 members of the majority caucus have signed up to attend the event with the vice president.

    List of lawmakers attending the event sighted by DGN Online shows that about 30 of the MPs who hail from the Ashanti Region have confirmed that they are accompanying Dr. Bawumia to the event at Otumfuo’s Court in Kumasi on Sunday.

    Ashanti Region has the largest nunber of MPs who have expressed their interest to travel with the aspiring presidential candidate of the ruling party.

    Eastern Region came second with 11 MPs followed by Northern Region before Greater Accra who both had nine MPs expressing interesting to accompany the Vice President to grace the beautiful festival of the Asantes.

    In all, 87 lawmakers on the majority side have penned their names of joing the Vice President to attend the colourful event in the second largest city in the country.

    Dr Bawumia, joined the Asantemann to celebrate the 2021 Akwasidae festival of the Asantes with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, sitting in state at the Manhyia Palace.

    He was accompanied by his wife, Samira Bawumia, both of whom were clad in splendid Kente cloth.

    The Akwasidae Festival is a magnificent Ashanti celebration which is centered on ancestral reverence, remembrance and acknowledgment of past Kings and noble feats.

    It serves as a celebration of the Golden Stool and a cultural vibrancy that brings together the Asantehene, sub-chiefs and subjects at the Manhyia palace.

    The atmosphere at this festival is expected to be charged as a result of the special personalities that are expected to grace occasion aside the firing of musketries with traditional priests and priestesses thrilling the crowd with dances

    The MPs are joining the Vice President after traveling with him to Kpembe to attend the funeral of the late Lepowura Alhaji MND Jawula in long buses.

    Over 40 MPs, were seen seated in a bus from the Tamale Airport to Kpembe in the Savanah Region with the Vice President interacting.

    Some of the Members of Parliament captured were the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Shiela Bartels, Mustapha Ussif, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Habib Iddrisu, Dr. Prince Armah, and Steven Jalulah, among others.

    Below are list of members attending the 19th March Akwasidae in Kumasi with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

    HON. MEMBERS
    WESTERN REGION
    1. HON. KWABENA OKYERE DARKO-MENSAH TAKORADI
    2. HON. JOSEPH CUDJOE EFFIA
    3. HON. PRINCE HAMID ARMAH KWESIMINTSIM
    4. HON. ANDREW KOFI EGYAPA MERCER SEKONDI
    5. HON. SAMUEL ERICKSON ABAKAH SHAMA
    6. HON. JOHN KOBINA ABBAM ABOAH SANIE MPOHOR
    CENTRAL REGION
    7. HON. OPHELIA MENSAH MFANTSEMAN
    8. HON. NAANA EYIAH GOMOA CENTRAL
    9. HON. FESTUS AWUAH KWOFIE UPPER DENKYIRA EAST
    GREATER ACCRA
    10. HON. TINA GIFTY NAA AYELE MENSAH WEIJA-GBAWE
    11. HON. MOSES ANIM TROBU
    12. HON. AKWASI OWUSU AFRIFA-MENSA AMASAMAN
    13. HON. HENRY QUARTEY AYAWASO CENTRAL
    14. HON. LYDIA SEYRAM ALHASSAN AYAWASO WEST WUOGON
    15. HON. DAKOA NEWMAN OKAIKWEI SOUTH
    16. HON. SHEILA BARTELS ABLEKUMA NORTH
    17. HON. URSULA GIFTY OWUSU-EKUFUL ABLEKUMA WEST
    18. HON. YVES HANSON -NORTEY TEMA CENTRAL
    EASTERN REGION
    19. HON. MICHAEL OKYERE BAAFI NEW JUABEN SOUTH
    20. HON. FRANK ANNOH-DOMPREH NSAWAM /ADOAGYIRI
    21. HON. FREDERICK OBENG ADOM UPPER WEST AKIM
    22. HON. GEORGE KWAME ABOAGYE ASENE/MANSO/AKROSO
    23. HON. KOJO OPPONG NKRUMAH OFFOASE-AYIREBI
    24. HON. ALEXANDER AGYARE KADE
    25. HON. JOHN OSEI FRIMPONG ABIREM
    26. HON. SAMUEL ATTA AKYEA ABUAKWA SOUTH
    27. HON. KWABENA AMANKWA ASIAMAH FANTEAKWA NORTH
    28. HON. KOFI OKYERE AGYEKUM FANTEAKWA SOUTH
    29. HON. JOSEPH FRIMPONG NKAWKAW
    ASHANTI REGION
    30. HON. OSEI KYEI-MENSAH-BONSU SUAME
    31. HON. ALEX BLANKSON AKROFUOM
    32. HON. PATRICK BOAKYE YIADOM OBUASI EAST
    33. HON. JOSEPH OSEI-OWUSU BEKWAI
    34. HON. EMMANUEL AKWASI GYAMFI ODOTOBIRI
    35. HON. GEORGE KWABENA OBENG TAKYI MANSO NKWANTA

    36. HON. EMMANUEL AGYEI ANHWERE ATWIMA NWABIAGYA SOUTH
    37. HON. BENITO OWUSU-BIO ATWIMA NWABIAGYA NORTH
    38. HON. YAW OSEI ADUTWUM BOSOMTWE
    39. HON. KOFI AMANKWA-MANU ATWIMA KWANWOMA
    40. HON. STEPHEN AMOAH NHYIAESO
    41. HON. MATTHEW OPOKU PREMPEH MANHYIA SOUTH
    42. HON. AKWASI KONADU MANHYIA NORTH
    43. HON. KINGSLEY NYARKO KWADASO
    44. HON. VINCENT EKOW ASSAFUAH OLD TAFO
    45. HON. FRANSISCA OTENG MENSAH KWABRE EAST
    46. HON. COLLINS ADOMAKO MENSAH AFIGYA KWABRE NORTH
    47. HON. AMA POMAA BOATENG JUABEN
    48. HON. JOHN AMPONTUAH KUMAH EJISU
    49. HON. KWAKU ASANTE-BOATENG ASANTE AKIM SOUTH
    50. HON. NANA AYEW AFRIYE EFFIDUASE/ ASOKORE
    51. HON. PHILLIP BASOAH KUMAWU
    52. HON. ADELAIDE NTIM NSUTA /KWAMAN BEPOSO
    53. HON. KWAKU AMPRATWUM -SARPONG MAMPONG
    54. HON. ISAAC YAW OPOKU OFFINSO SOUTH
    55. HON. AUGUSTINE COLLINS NTIM OFFINSO NORTH
    56. HON. JOHNSON KWAKU ADU AHAFO ANO SOUTH WEST
    57. HON. FRANCIS MANU-ADABOR AHAFO ANO SOUTH EAST
    58. HON. SULEMAN ADAMU SANID AHAFO ANO NORTH
    WESTERN NORTH REGION
    59. HON. ALFRED OBENG BOATENG BIBIANI -ANHWIASO -BEKWAI
    60. HON. KWAKU AFRIYIE SEFWI WIAWSO
    61. HON. ALEX TETTEH DJORNOBUAH SEFWI AKONTOMBRA
    AHAFO REGION
    62. HON. EVANS OPOKU BOBIE ASUNAFO NORTH
    63. HON. PATRICK BANOR ASUTIFI NORTH
    64. HON. BENJAMIN SEKYERE YEBOAH TANO SOUTH
    65. HON. FREDA PREMPEH TANO NORTH
    BONO REGION
    66. HON. KWASI AMEYAW-CHEREMEH SUNYANI EAST
    67. HON. PAUL APREKU TWUM-BARIMAH DORMAA EAST
    BONO EAST REGION
    68. HON. MARTIN KWAKU AGYEI-MENSAH
    KORSAH
    TECHIMAN SOUTH
    69. HON. ALEXANDER GYAN KINTAMPO SOUTH
    70. HON. STEPHEN PAMBIIN JALULAH PRU WEST
    NORTHERN REGION
    71. HON. DOMINIC BINGAB ADUNA NITIWUL BIMBILLA
    72. HON. JOHN BENNAM JABAAH ZABZUGU
    73. HON. THOMAS MBOMBA TATALE/SANSULI

    36. HON. EMMANUEL AGYEI ANHWERE ATWIMA NWABIAGYA SOUTH
    37. HON. BENITO OWUSU-BIO ATWIMA NWABIAGYA NORTH
    38. HON. YAW OSEI ADUTWUM BOSOMTWE
    39. HON. KOFI AMANKWA-MANU ATWIMA KWANWOMA
    40. HON. STEPHEN AMOAH NHYIAESO
    41. HON. MATTHEW OPOKU PREMPEH MANHYIA SOUTH
    42. HON. AKWASI KONADU MANHYIA NORTH
    43. HON. KINGSLEY NYARKO KWADASO
    44. HON. VINCENT EKOW ASSAFUAH OLD TAFO
    45. HON. FRANSISCA OTENG MENSAH KWABRE EAST
    46. HON. COLLINS ADOMAKO MENSAH AFIGYA KWABRE NORTH
    47. HON. AMA POMAA BOATENG JUABEN
    48. HON. JOHN AMPONTUAH KUMAH EJISU
    49. HON. KWAKU ASANTE-BOATENG ASANTE AKIM SOUTH
    50. HON. NANA AYEW AFRIYE EFFIDUASE/ ASOKORE
    51. HON. PHILLIP BASOAH KUMAWU
    52. HON. ADELAIDE NTIM NSUTA /KWAMAN BEPOSO
    53. HON. KWAKU AMPRATWUM -SARPONG MAMPONG
    54. HON. ISAAC YAW OPOKU OFFINSO SOUTH
    55. HON. AUGUSTINE COLLINS NTIM OFFINSO NORTH
    56. HON. JOHNSON KWAKU ADU AHAFO ANO SOUTH WEST
    57. HON. FRANCIS MANU-ADABOR AHAFO ANO SOUTH EAST
    58. HON. SULEMAN ADAMU SANID AHAFO ANO NORTH
    WESTERN NORTH REGION
    59. HON. ALFRED OBENG BOATENG BIBIANI -ANHWIASO -BEKWAI
    60. HON. KWAKU AFRIYIE SEFWI WIAWSO
    61. HON. ALEX TETTEH DJORNOBUAH SEFWI AKONTOMBRA
    AHAFO REGION
    62. HON. EVANS OPOKU BOBIE ASUNAFO NORTH
    63. HON. PATRICK BANOR ASUTIFI NORTH
    64. HON. BENJAMIN SEKYERE YEBOAH TANO SOUTH
    65. HON. FREDA PREMPEH TANO NORTH
    BONO REGION
    66. HON. KWASI AMEYAW-CHEREMEH SUNYANI EAST
    67. HON. PAUL APREKU TWUM-BARIMAH DORMAA EAST
    BONO EAST REGION
    68. HON. MARTIN KWAKU AGYEI-MENSAH
    KORSAH
    TECHIMAN SOUTH
    69. HON. ALEXANDER GYAN KINTAMPO SOUTH
    70. HON. STEPHEN PAMBIIN JALULAH PRU WEST
    NORTHERN REGION
    71. HON. DOMINIC BINGAB ADUNA NITIWUL BIMBILLA
    72. HON. JOHN BENNAM JABAAH ZABZUGU
    73. HON. THOMAS MBOMBA TATALE/SANSULI

    74. HON. UMAR FAROUK ALIU MAHAMA YENDI
    75. HON. MOHAMMED AMIN ADAM KARAGA
    76. HON. MOHAMMED HARDI TUFEIRU NANTON
    77. HON. MUSAH ABDUL-AZIZ AYABA MION
    78. HON. ALHASSAN TAMPULI SULEMANA GUSHEGU
    79. HON. HABIB IDDRISU TOLON
    SAVANNA REGION
    80. HON. ALHASSAN ABDALLAH IDDI SALAGA NORTH
    81. HON. SAMUEL ABDULAI JINAPOR DAMONGO
    UPPER WEST REGION
    82. HON. AMBROSE DERY NANDOM
    NORTH EAST REGION
    83. HON. MUSTAPHA USSIF YAGBA-KUBORI
    84. HON. OSCAR LIWAAL YUNYOO
    85. HON. LARIBA ZUWEIRA ABUDU WALEWALE
    86. HON. ABDUL RAZAK TAHIDU CHEREPONI
    UPPER EAST REGION
    87. HON. ABANGA ABDULAI BINDURI

  • Ghana will save $4.8bn annually due to ‘Gold for Oil’ policy – Bawumia

    Ghana will save $4.8bn annually due to ‘Gold for Oil’ policy – Bawumia

    The ‘Gold for Oil‘ policy, which began this year, is expected to save the country $4.8 billion per year, according to Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

    The Vice President noted that the ‘Gold for Oil’ policy, which is now in its third month, is already having a positive impact and is expected to result in lower gasoline prices beginning March 16, 2023.

    Dr Bawumia made this known while speaking at the commissioning of a new head office for the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company in Accra.

    ”The savings in foreign exchange when we do this will be an annual savings of $4.8 billion every year and that means the oil importing companies will not be going to the Bank of Ghana looking for $4.8 billion to buy oil”, he said.

    BOST is mandated to build a strategic reserve of stocks of petroleum products to meet a minimum of six weeks of national consumption from the Gold for Oil policy.

    The Vice President stated that the policy is on track to achieve its overall goal of lowering fuel prices and relieving pressure on the country’s forex reserves.

    He also stated that the government’s goal for this year is to reduce oil imports by 50%. Ghana has since received two consignments under the Gold for Oil policy.

  • Monies of Muslims who failed to embark on Mecca 2022 repaid

    Monies of Muslims who failed to embark on Mecca 2022 repaid

    About 90% of Muslims who were unable to travel to Mecca for a pilgrimage in 2022 have been reimbursed by the Ghana Hajj Board.

    Alhaji Farouk Hamza, the Executive Secretary of the Hajj Board, who made this announcement, also noted that finances for the remaining pilgrims are still intact and that they can get in touch with the board to get their money.

    He advised the impacted pilgrims who have not yet received their refunds to either get in touch with the Hajj Board Secretariat for their money or top up if they want to pay for the pilgrimage in 2023.

    In July 2022, about 3,000 Ghanaians departed for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to conduct the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.

    Due to the numbers requested by the organizers of the annual event, some Ghanaians couldn’t embark on the journey and subsequently demanded a refund of their monies, which the board promised will be paid as soon as the paper works were done.

    Alhaji Farouk Hamza who spoke during an interview on Kumasi-based Zuria FM said, “some people paid and could not make it to Mecca in 2022. We have invited all those people to come for their monies. Even those who paid GH¢26,500 were invited to take GHC39,000. Over 90 percent have contacted the Board and they have been refunded. Just a few of the affected people have not yet taken their monies, although we have asked them to come for a refund. The amount which is GHC39,000 is intact. The Board has also opened an option for them for a top-up if they want to be part of this year’s pilgrimage.”

    The Hajj Board has announced that prospective pilgrims to Mecca will pay $6,500, which translates to GH₵75,000 each this year.

    The Board states that the GH75,000 in cedi equivalent will be on effect until March 31, 2023, after which it may be revised in accordance with the then-current US dollar exchange rate.

    The Hajj Board’s executive secretary stated that the convenience of Ghanaian pilgrims traveling to Mecca in 2023 will be given top priority.

    He stated that the Board was putting forth great effort to build upon the accomplishments it had recorded during the 2022 trip.

    In order to provide flexibility and comfort for potential pilgrims, he continued, the Hajj Board has tapped into Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s initiatives and digitalized its payment processes.

    Alhaji Farouk also explained that a payment portal has been introduced which gives the opportunity of prospective pilgrims to pay monies in instalments from a minimum of GHC5,000.

    He assured that the Hajj Board will do all it can to make the 2023 Hajj a successful one.

  • Ashanti Region wants Bawumia as NPP flagbearer – Dr Afriyie

    Ashanti Region wants Bawumia as NPP flagbearer – Dr Afriyie

    MP for Ashanti Region’s Effiduase Asokore Constituency, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie is optimisitc that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia would become the NPP’s standard bearer (NPP).

    He claimed that the Vice President is supported by the Ashanti Region, the party’s heartland.

    He claims that Dr. Bawumia has significantly superior talents and competencies as compared to other candidates running for vice president.

    “Ashanti region has gone for Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia. And most times if you realize, when a whole region moves towards a particular direction, then it means that their decisions are solely based on what the grassroots are saying.

    “So, I’m not surprised that Mahamudu Bawumia has won the primaries already. It’s my humble opinion and is based on history. To the extent that Ashanti MPs determine the president, and since there hasn’t been any change, Mahamudu Bawumia has won the election.

    Dr Ayew Afriyie

    “When you go to parliament, majority of the MPs, when you take out about 18 out of the 128 that I have circled out, about 108 is green for him,” he said.

    Touching on the Ashanti region’s relevance and role in electing Bawumia as flagbearer, the Effiduase Asokore legislator stated, “Adu Boahen won the Ashanti region and went on to win the national election. Kufuor won support from the Ashanti region before winning the national election…he got the majority of MPs and support from the Ashanti region and we went on to win. Akufo-Addo got MPs and Ashanti region support and went on to win the elections.”

    The lawmaker continued by saying that the majority of NPP lawmakers from the Ashanti region and almost all NPP MPs had thrown their support behind the vice president.

    Source: Pulse.com

  • Over 7 million properties for tax collection identified by govt – Bawumia

    Over 7 million properties for tax collection identified by govt – Bawumia

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), according to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is implementing a Unified Digital Property Platform for the purpose of property taxation.

    On Monday, February 14, 2023, he declared via a social media post that the government’s investment in digitalization was the reason behind the policy that had resulted in the identification of more than 7 million unique properties.

    “One of the problems Ghana has faced in the area of revenue generation since independence is that only about 9% of properties in Ghana pay property taxes. This is because we have not had a database of properties, the owners and their addresses. As a result, many property owners do not even receive bills for property taxes although they are willing to pay.

    “Thanks to the implementation of the Digital Property Address System, the Ghanacard, and Mobile Money Interoperability, and after three years of painstaking work, Government has been able to put in place a Unified digital platform for property taxation which the Ghana Revenue Authority is now rolling out together with the Municipal and District Assemblies.

    “The Unified Digital Platform for Property Taxation includes the list and details of over 7 million properties, uniquely identified by their addresses. This is a historic innovation for Ghana,” the statement shared by Dr Bawumia said.

    He noted the Digital Property Address System as a platform will among other things offer assemblies, tax authorities and property owners the convenience of paying and collecting Property Taxes with ease.

    He further underscored that the policy will lead to a significant increase in government revenue.

    “On this digital platform, property owners can verify their property rates and pay same and receive receipts online. Also, the GRA and MMDAs can see, in real-time, which properties have or have not paid their property taxes. This unified digital platform will significantly increase property rate collection and revenues.

    “The Unified Property Rate Platform can be accessed at www.myassembly.gov.gh and I encourage you to visit, login and explore the site,” the statement said.

    In late 2022, President Akufo-Addo in a nationwide broadcast on various measures being undertaken to increase revenue generated to the state, announced that the government is looking at taxation on properties as a viable revenue generation measure.

  • We must combat the risk of corruption that comes with gold-for-oil – GhEITI

    We must combat the risk of corruption that comes with gold-for-oil – GhEITI

    The government’s Gold-for-Oil deal, according to Dr. Steve Manteaw, co-chair of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GhEITI), poses a corruption risk that requires investigation.

    The Chairman of the Alliance of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) claims that the gold-for-oil trade is plagued by a number of corrupt scandals.

    He asserted that the gold is bought from Ghanaians and sold on the world market, usually involving the participation of a third party organization and the execution of an international contract between the two parties, which is subject to parliamentary approval in accordance with Ghanaian law.

    He continued by saying that the company that will also be providing the nation with its oil would need a contract between the nation and the said company, which also needs parliamentary approval but that has been neglected in the entire contract agreement.

    “If this went into parliament, I believe all these controversies won’t come up. First of all, we won’t sell the gold we’re selling to Ghanaians though the gold will be bought from them. It will be sold on the international market.
    “And we will be trading with a third party, rumours also say that the first tranche of the 40,000 is a Russian company that brought the money, which means that, there’s going to be an agreement between the company and the nation.

    “And such an agreement is an international transaction and per the Constitution’s article 181, such deals need parliamentary approval.

    “Also, the person who will be supplying the petroleum product to Ghana will go through some level of agreement and such trading agreement needs parliamentary approval.

    “We will fight this deal till our demands are met because there’s a corruption risk related to it, which needs to be prevented.

    “I don’t know if parliament are sleeping or what, because parliament needs to invite those leading the process to interrogate them in parliament so that if there are any policy documents, they can take and investigate properly into the deal because we’re tired of corruption activities in this country,” he said.

    Background:

    Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in November 2022 announced the government’s plan to undertake the gold-for-oil initiative. The deal hinged on buying oil products with Ghana’s gold instead of the US dollar.

    Dr Bawumia on Facebook earlier explained that the usage of gold to purchase oil would also address Ghana’s dwindling foreign reserves as well as reduce demand for US dollars by oil importers.

    “It will fundamentally change our balance of payments and significantly reduce the persistent depreciation of our currency,” the vice president earlier wrote.

    Under the policy, the government believes that using gold to purchase oil products would also bring stability to the exchange rate market and ensure domestic oil operators do not solely depend on foreign exchange to import products.

  • 2024 will certainly be a Bawumia-Mahama game – Annoh-Dompreh

    2024 will certainly be a Bawumia-Mahama game – Annoh-Dompreh

    The 2024 presidential election will undoubtedly feature a contest between Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former President John Dramani Mahama for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), according to Majority Chief Whip in Parliament Frank Annoh-Dompreh.

    This is despite the fact that neither the NPP nor the NDC have chosen their standard bearers for the election.

    At least four party stalwarts from the NPP have expressed interest in serving as the party’s flagbearer.

    They are Kennedy Agyapong, a lawmaker from Assin Central, Alan Kyerematen, a former trade and industry minister, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, a former general secretary of the NPP, and Dr. Owusu Akoto Afriyie, a former minister of food and agriculture.

    Dr. Bawumia has not yet publicly stated that he plans to run for office, although he most certainly will.

    http://backend.theindependentghana.com/respect-bawumia-he-is-likely-to-get-70-80-votes-in-npp-primaries-yaw-adomako/

    According to Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Dr. Bawumia represents hope for both the governing party and Ghana as a whole.

    “It will certainly be between BMW( our hope): and JM( The spent force)!” he tweeted on Wednesday, January 18.

    The Nsawam-Adoagyiri lawmaker further indicated that Dr Bawumia “is a gift to this Nation, let’s not take it for granted. Do away with your ‘Hatred’ for him.. He will rescue us, certainly. Dr.Bawumia, ever proud of him.”

  • Respect Bawumia; he is likely to get 70-80% votes in NPP primaries – Yaw Adomako

    Respect Bawumia; he is likely to get 70-80% votes in NPP primaries – Yaw Adomako

    According to Mr. Yaw Adomako Baafi, a former NPP communications director, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia will most likely win the upcoming NPP flagbearership election by a margin of 70 to 80%.

    Therefore, he cautioned Mr. Alan Kyeremanten’s followers against disparaging Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia as the party prepared to choose a flagbearer.

    He made it clear that he disapproves of the behavior of some ardent Mr. Kyeremanten followers on social media platforms and noted that the damaging information they are spreading won’t benefit the party once its internal elections are over.

  • It must be a win against the dollar’ – Wontumi reacts to controversial BMW chant

    It must be a win against the dollar’ – Wontumi reacts to controversial BMW chant

    Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, the New Patriotic Party‘s regional chairman for Ashanti, has cleared himself of charges that he violated the party’s code of conduct.

    A representative for the chairman claims that, in contrast to charges that he actively supported Vice President Dr. Dollar

    Mahamudu Bawumia at a dinner party, he was merely making an implicit comment in favor of the head of the economic management.

    Andy Owusu reportedly stated in an interview on Akoma FM that “the BMW Bawumia Must Win chant was meaning that Bawumia must win against the dollar but not what people were thinking,” according to a report by 3news.com spotted by GhanaWeb.

    “We all know that Dr Bawumia is the one who declared war against the Dollar so when the Dollar started dropping, we believed it was Dr Bawumia who was winning so at the dinner party, all our chanting and prayers was that BMW meaning ‘Bawumia Must Win’ against the Dollar but not in effect the flagbearer position,” the spokesperson of the regional chairman said.

    NPP last year issued a directive to its members and officers asking everyone to desist from engaging in open campaigning until nominations officially open for the party’s internal primaries.

    According to the party, a myriad of sanctions exists for individuals who will breach the code which is aimed at promoting tolerance and unity.

    But in a recent viral video, Chairman Wontumi was seen at a dinner party attended by Members of Parliament, Constituency chairpersons and party faithfuls of the NPP leading a chant.

    The “BMW” chant which was led by the Ashanti Regional chairman of the NPP translates into “Bawumia Must Win” and is known as a parlance for supporters of the vice president’s flagbearership campaign.

    Vice President Bawumia together with the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and the now-resigned Minister for Trade and Industry, John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen are tipped as the lead contenders for the upcoming contest.

    ‘Bawumia must win against the dollar’ – Wontumi clarifies controversial BMW chant.

  • Bawumia competent enough to become president – Atta Akyea

    Bawumia competent enough to become president – Atta Akyea

    Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is qualified to serve as the substantive president, according to Samuel Atta Akyea, a Member of Parliament representing Abuakwa South.

    Speaking on the January 3, 2023 episode of Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana show, the lawmaker emphasized that Bawumia’s background as an economist was one of his greatest assets and that he would make no excuses for failing to rescue the nation from any economic difficulties.

    “I am of the humble view that Dr. Bawumia will be the first president who is an economist and therefore nobody is going to say that the president didn’t understand the economy that is why the economy is a mess.

    “Now, he is in the saddle…now you are president, deliver us from the economic mess. Who understands the economy better than the one who is an economist himself? So, in terms of competence, I am persuaded that he has it and he is over the top,” he told host Paul Adom-Otchere.

    Atta Akyea also urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to choose competence over ethnicity, geography, or religion when selecting their flagbearer.

    http://backend.theindependentghana.com/bawumia-proud-as-ghanas-national-e-pharmacy-platform-goes-live-today/

    He reaffirmed his position that Alan Kyerematen, minister of trade and industry, should pair Bawumia with him as his vice and choose him as the consensus candidate.

    Later this year, the NPP is anticipated to choose a flagbearer for the elections of 2024.

    Alan and Bawumia have been replaced by prominent figures such Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin Central, and Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former general secretary of the NPP.

  • Dr Bawumia calls for deepening of ties between Ghana, UK

    The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has lauded the existing cooperation between Ghana and the UK and expressed hope that the two countries will continue to work together and chart new grounds, especially in the area of climate change.

    Dr Bawumia was addressing the seventh session of the UK-Ghana Business Council (UK-GBC) at the Jubilee House in Accra last Friday.

    “I think the setting up of the UK-GBC makes a lot of sense and I am glad that we are continuing in the same spirit of cooperation and partnership between Ghana and the UK.

    “In that context of cooperation, we have seen, between the two countries, a solid record of accomplishment thus far,” he added.
    The UK-GBC was set up in 2018.

    At the meeting were the UK Minister of State for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell; the UK Trade Envoy to Ghana, Baroness Kate Hoey, and the UK High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson.

    Projects

    According to the Vice-President, the council had made some significant gains over the last six years, and mentioned some projects that were being supported by the UK government as expansion works on the Kumasi and the Tamale International airports and the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua.

    Others were the Children and Maternity Block at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH); an Aqua Africa Water project, which he said was supplying critical drinking water to 16 towns across the country; the Obetsebi-Lamptey Interchange in Accra; phase two of the Kejetia Market project in Kumasi; the Bekwai Hospital and the Tema-Aflao Highway projects.

    Significance

    Mr Mitchell traced the beginning of his relationship with Ghana to when he was a young banker in the country in 1983, saying: “By our priority sectors, the UK-GBC has helped us target areas where we can collectively make the big difference.”

    He acknowledged the central role the council was playing to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries and mentioned increased trade and investments, the building of partnerships, creation of jobs, ensuring sustainable growth and building mutually shared prosperity as some of the areas that were receiving support and which could be expanded.

    On the prevailing economic challengings in Ghana, Mr Mitchell said: “We have also faced our own economic challenges in the UK, but we benefit hugely from the fact that a highly successful finance minister is now our prime minister.”

    He commended Ghana for reaching a staff level agreement (SLA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and said although reforms that came with the agreement were difficult, they were necessary to bring the economy back on track.

    “I am keen to hear about what your recovery plan looks like and how the UK might support. I am pleased that the UK has been able to help so far through our work on debt management and our long-standing revenue programme, which includes an embedded official of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

    “On the external side, trade can also be part of the solution, including our trade partnership agreement. It is good we have both reduced tariffs and I know our officials are working closely together to maximise the mutual benefits of those agreements,” Mr Mitchell added.

    He further said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represented another opportunity for Ghana to increase exports and become a regional trading hub.

    Source: Graphic

  • Festive celebration: See Something, Say Something should be our mantra – Bawumia

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has called for an effective collaboration between civilians and the security agencies to combat crime and flush out criminal element in the country.

    He said for Ghanaians to maintain a safe and peaceful community, it was imperative to report suspicious characters and activities in the communities to the security agencies for prompt response.

    “We must all be guided by the mantra: “See Something, Say Something,” Dr Bawumia added.

    Vice President Bawumia gave the advice when he reviewed the parade and commissioned graduating officer cadets of the Ghana Prisons Service at the Prisons Training School in Accra.

    There were 203 officer cadets, comprising 157 males and 46 females.

    Dr Bawumia encouraged the public to be more conscious of suspicious activities within their communities and workplaces and charged every Ghanaian to be observant and report any unusual activities to the security agencies.

    “The Ghana Prisons Service is an integral part of the security architecture of this country and also an important facilitator to criminal justice delivery,” he said.

    “Therefore, the interdependence of the various components of the criminal justice system gave compelling reasons for government to equitably resource those components to function effectively,” the Vice-President stated.

    Dr Bawumia said the recent recruitment of 2000 men and women into the service was part of various interventions by the government to strengthen the Service’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.

    “The graduation parade is therefore a climax of six batches of new entrants from the unprecedented figure of 2000 entrants.

    Vice-President Bawumia emphasised that a comprehensive programme to resource and retool the Service was tabled and, thus, working towards providing more operational vehicles and tools for inmates’ rehabilitation to actualise the objectives of the programme.

    Funds were also released for the continuation and completion of the Remand Prison at Nsawam as well as the first phase of the maximum security prison at Ankaful in the Central Region.

    He, thus, lauded the contributions of faith-based organisations, particularly the Church of Pentecost, which was putting up a number of prisons as well as other corporate bodies for the growth and development of the Prisons Service in recent time.

    Dr Bawumia expressed joy over the major rehabilitation programmes the Service was undertaking in its quest to better equip inmates for life after prison and cited the agricultural enterprises being run by the service.

    The Vice-President lauded the graduates for their efforts and believed that the expertise and skills acquired during the training would be utilised to reinforce inmate welfare and reformation.

    The hall mark of security or regimented institution was discipline and professionalism and urged them to abide by those tenets in all their endeavours.

    The Overall Best Graduand Senior Under Officer Desire Mawutor Klutse received the Commandant’s Sword of Honour for his hard work and dedication to duty.

    Source:GNA

  • GH¢253 million budgeted for Pwalugu dam in 2023 budget – Bawumia

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia informed the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana that the government has set aside GH253 million in the 2023 budget for the construction of the Pwalugu dam.

    When Dr. Bawumia welcomed the board and leadership of the Association to the Jubilee House on Monday, December 12, 2022, to discuss issues affecting Ghanaian farmers, particularly the impact of climate change and the significance of irrigation to year-round farming, he made the aforementioned statement.

    The vice president used the occasion to outline the various steps the government is taking to ensure the building of dams, particularly the multipurpose Pwalugu Dam, whose construction the vice president said the government will oversee with the help of the World Bank and also invite participation from the private sector.

    “In the meantime, GH¢253 million has been allocated in the 2023 budget towards the construction of the Pwalugu dam,” he told the farmers.

    He noted that when completed Pwalugu will, at 25,000 hectares, almost double the amount of irrigable land in Ghana while controlling yearly flooding from the spillage of the Bagre dam and provide 60mw of electricity.

  • Why are you still in office when you collapsed banks on the basis of mismanagement? – Edudzi questions Ofori-Atta

    Private legal practitioner and member of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe has questioned the basis of the continued stay in office of the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.

    According to Edudzi, the minister for finance should find a reason to leave his job based on the current state of the economy

    “You are the same minister of finance who told the whole world that you will never go to the IMF, principle and consistency. Now you have run the system so badly…. So then you go back for your own voice and on principle, you have to say I will let go.

    “You took over an economy that was so strong at the time that you were able to borrow US$11 billion in Eurobonds on the strength of the economy that you took over. Today, six years down the line, the same economy cannot borrow GHC1 from the Eurobond Market. So on principle, you tell yourself that thank you Mr President for the confidence you reposed in me but I am leaving the scene,” he told Kwame Nkrumah Tikese on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia morning show.

    Referencing the government’s decision to close down some banks during the 2017 banking sector cleanup exercise, Edudzi emphasised that Mr Ofori-Atta should resign on the same principle.

    “You see, his continues presence in the financial system is hurting people. Ken Ofori-Atta and Governor Addison decided to collapse banks when he came into office. What was the reason for cleaning up the banking sector? They said it was due to mismanaging and that the banks were on the verge of insolvency. Is this country not insolvent? So if you; Ken Ofori-Atta, governor Addison, Nana Addo and Dr Bawumia can collapse banks on the strength that those banks have been mismanaged why are you still in office?” he questioned.

    Ghana is currently plunged into serious economic distress with the nation’s debt shooting through the roof.

    The minister for finance has announced a debt sustainability program aimed at controlling the country’s debt.

    There is a public frenzy about Ghana’s current economic status with several concerns being shared about the impact of the announcement.

  • Pwalugu Dam Project: We would seek the World Bank’s assistance to complete the project – Dr Bawumia

    The World Bank may be approached by the government for financial support in order to complete the Pwalugu multipurpose dam project, according to the Vice President, Dr Bawumia.

    It will be recalled that the government cut sod for the $993
    million Sinohydro funded Pwalugu multifunctional dam project in
    2019 with the goal of providing flood control, irrigation for year-round farming, and electricity.

    But because of a lack of funding, the project has been put on hold.

    In 2021, the consultant for the multi-purpose Pwalugu Dam, Prof.David Millar, expressed doubt about the project’s completion
    within the government’s stipulated 48-month period.

    On his part, the exclusion of the dam from the government’s budget shows no indication that it will be built.

    He added that Ghanaians should reduce their expectations for the
    completion of the dam, particularly due to the current economic hardship.

    However, speaking at the launch of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project in Bolgatanga, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia mentioned that the project was faced with financial constraints, hence the urgent need to seek support from the World Bank.

    According to the Vice President, the aforementioned project is one the government is keen on completing due to its numerous benefits, such as climate resilience, among others, which is another reason why he “believes the World Bank should really take a keen interest in it, and development partners as well.”

    “One of the major projects that the government has a major intention to see happen in the Northern regions of Ghana because it will really impact climate resilience, food production, flood control, and so on, is the Pwalugu multipurpose dam project” Dr Bawumia noted.

    He further went on to appeal to the World Bank, saying, “I want to put it on the table that we will be discussing this project further with you [the World Bank] so that we can see to its construction.”

    In response, Naab Kasom Yelazoya, the Paramount Chief of Nangodi, praised the government’s initiative to work with the World Bank to hasten the construction of the dam and urged the World Bank to act quickly to address their situation.

    “I would plead with the World Bank to respond to our call immediately to start the construction of the Pwalugu multipurpose dam. We taught the constitution of the dam would have come much earlier and so already we have lost so much time so we are pleading that the World Bank comes to our aid.”

    The incumbent government approved US $700 million for the
    construction of a multipurpose dam at Pwalugu in the Talensi District in 2019.

    It is reported to be the largest investment any government has
    ever made into infrastructure expansion in the northern sector since Ghana’s independence.

    The construction of the dam will serve as a receptor, as it is expected to hold large volumes of water spilled from the Bagre Dam for irrigation purposes and the generation of electricity.

     

  • Government promises more support to Ghana Police

    Vice President Dr Bawumia has reiterated government’s commitment to supporting the Ghana Police Service.

    “As we urge the public to come on board, I wish to charge officers on parade in particular, and all other police officers to note that the anticipation of the Ghanaian public is for you to be proactive and accountable to them.

    “You should be, first, exemplary law-abiding citizens for others to emulate. As professionals, always remember to treat people the way you wish yourselves, spouse or children to be treated. Therefore, in enforcing the law, be fair, firm and fearless.”

    Government promises more support to Ghana Police

    These were the words of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at the 51st Cadet Officers’ Graduation of the Ghana Police Academy, Tesano – Accra on Friday, 25th November, 2022.

    The 308 Officers, who have been commissioned into the ranks of Deputy Superintendent of Police and Assistant Superintendents of Police, were taken through the revamped training model, based on a significant practical outlook with limited theoretical content, making it the first of its kind in the history of the Police Service.

    Government promises more support to Ghana Police

    According to officials of the Ghana Police Academy, the programme now has a blend of theory and practical training modules including a four weeks High Risk Training and six weeks Practical Field Attachment with the view to producing a more confident and practical oriented officers to strengthen leadership at the district and unit levels across the country.

    “I congratulate you as pioneers of this training reform agenda and urge you all to work collaboratively with the communities to improve safety and security for socio-economic development,” Vice President Bawumia told the graduands.

    Government promises more support to Ghana Police

    Government Support to the Ghana Police Service

    Government, Dr. Bawumia said, will continue to resource the Police Service in its quest to become a world class Police institution. Thus, the Police will continue to receive the needed infrastructure, resources and motivation necessary to effectively maintain law and order in line with its constitutional mandate.

    “It is in the light of this commitment that additional infrastructure such as lecture/syndicate rooms, ultra-modern auditorium and residential accommodation are being put up at the Academy to contain the increasing number of officers admitted to the Academy.

    “Within the year, the government even in the face of budgetary constraints recently procured over 2,000 motorbikes for the Police to strengthen its on-going crime prevention/visibility operational initiatives within the framework of promoting democratic policing in the country.

    Government promises more support to Ghana Police

    “As a result of this intervention, communities which hitherto were not easily accessible can have their share of police presence due to the better maneuverability capabilities of these motorbikes. As His Excellency the President promised during the handing over of the motorbikes, some 3,000 more will be added to bring the number to 5,000 to ensure that no community is left out.”

    About 200 pick-up vehicles have also been procured for the Police and will soon be deployed to about 140 locations across the country to be used by Regional Formed Police Units (FPUs), the Vice President disclosed further.

    “These deployments are going to lead to a significant boost in the quality of policing on all highways across the country to enable everyone go about their daily activities in safety.”

    Government promises more support to Ghana Police

    Public support

    Dr. Bawumia urged the public to collaborate with the Police and the other security agencies to ensure national security, emphasising the collective roles all have to play towards building safer communities.

    “I would like to entreat every well-meaning Ghanaian to come on board so that together, we can sustain the gains made in ensuring a safe, peaceful and a secure Ghana. Let us partner the police in our various communities to police us better. Passing on relevant information on crime and criminal activities to the police is a gesture that can save lives,” he noted.

    Source: Jubilee House Communications 

  • Government negotiating deal to use gold for purchase of imported oil products – Bawumia

    According to the vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the administration is negotiating a new strategy to ensure that the nation pays for imported oil goods with gold rather than foreign currency.

    The Vice President stated that the policy is anticipated to go into effect by the end of the first quarter of 2023 and is a part of an effort to address the cedi’s ongoing depreciation in a Facebook post on November 24, 2022.

    The program, he said, “would radically alter our balance of payments and greatly lessen the continual devaluation of our currency with its corresponding hikes in fuel, power, water, transit, and food prices.”

    “This is because the exchange rate (spot or forward) will no longer directly enter the formula for the determination of fuel or utility prices since all the domestic sellers of fuel will no longer need foreign exchange to import oil products,“ the Vice president said.

    “The barter of gold for oil represents a major structural change. My thanks to the Ministers for Lands and Natural Resources, Energy, and Finance, Precious Minerals Marketing Company, and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana for their supportive work on this new policy. We expect this new framework to be fully operational by the end of the first quarter of 2023. God bless our homeland Ghana,” Dr. Bawumia wrote.

  • Dr. Bawumia donates GH¢100,000 for Ejura-Sekyedumase Divisional Police Command project

    The Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has donated GH¢100,000.00 in support of the construction of the Ejura-Sekyedumase Divisional Police Command in the Ashanti Region.

    The money was to fund the roofing of the storey building which is almost ready to house about hundred police officers in the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality.

    This donation followed Dr. Bawumia’s first presentation of one thousand bags of cement during the initial stage of the project which was the brainchild of the chief of Ejura Traditional Area Barima Osei Hwedie II in 2021.

    Dr. Bawumia made the donation during a short meeting with the chief of Ejura Traditional Area, Barima Osei Hwedie II in Accra on Sunday, November 12, 2022.

    Dr. Bawumia during the presentation said it was his utmost wish that the project will be completed on time to help beef up security in the area.

    He pledged his commitment to supporting authorities at Ejura to maintain law and order in the area.

    Chief of Ejura Traditional Area Barima Osei Hwedie II who welcomed the support said, Dr. Bawumia’s kind gesture was timely.

    He praised the vice president for his continuous support of the development of the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality and Ashanti Region as a whole.

    “Dr. Bawumia’s efforts to ensure that Ejura Traditional Council’s vision of putting up a place for the municipality’s Divisional Police Headquarters come through is unprecedented”

    “We are very lucky to have the support of no other than the vice president who is keen on working towards enhancing peace and security of Ejura Residents”

    “We at Ejura are wishing him well in all his future endeavors and we hope he will continue to shine in his political career and help others ”

  • A supposed investor called to enquire about ‘appearance fee’ to see Dr Bawumia – Dr Gideon Boako reveals

    The spokesperson for the Vice President, Dr. Gideon Boako has revealed that he was contacted by a supposed investor earlier in the year inquire about the ‘appearance fee’ to meet his boss.

    He however did not probe into the background of the supposed investors “because it was of no interest to me.”

    According to Dr. Gideon Boako, the conversation took place on phone.

    Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen on Monday, he said, “the exact day, I may not be able to tell, but they contacted me this year, 2022.”

    According to Dr. Boako, his response to the supposed investor was that the request should be put into writing to the Vice President’s office.

    Dr. Boako said when the question of ‘appearance fee’ was asked, he was taken aback.

    “I laughed and asked, an appearance fee? Why? is it that Kotoko and Hearts of Oak are going to have a super clash,” Dr. Boako said while laughing.

    The spokesperson continued that the supposed investor asked whether the ‘appearance fee’ is a norm.

    To which he replied, “no, that cannot happen. If that was the case, then I am not a poor man. I told them the Vice President as I know him, will never entertain such a thing. If you are his staff and entertain such a thing, you do that at your own risk.”

    According to Dr. Boako, the supposed investor later mentioned that someone once made a proposal for ‘appearance fee’ hence his question.

    “I told them that well, I do not know that person, but I will say categorically that the person did that on his own behalf and not on behalf of the Vice President because as far as I know the Vice President, it will never happen. I said to them that if the Vice President gets to know of that, he will recommend for the person to be questioned by the security agencies. It was only yesterday that Tiger Eye revealed name of the person they were talking about,” Dr. Boako added.

    It would be recalled that the dismissed Minister of State, Adu Boahen is alleged to have said, in an under-cover expose by ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, that Vice President Bawumia needed $200 as an appearance fee to meet prospective investors.

    The documentary is dubbed “Galamsey Economy” and is expected to be premiered on Monday at the Accra International Conference Centre.

    In the documentary, Mr. Adu Boahen is said to have told the undercover investigators that Dr. Bawumia would also require some positions from the investor for his siblings to get his backing and influence in establishing a business in Ghana.

    But Dr. Bawumia denied the accusations and called for the Minister to be sacked and investigated by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

    President Akufo-Addo subsequently sacked the former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.

    Meanwhile, Programmes Manager at the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Mary Addah has called for investigations into allegations levelled against Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

    “We should have an investigation which centers particularly on this allegation that if you have (USD) 200,000 you should be able to secure a meeting with the Vice-President and I know the state institutions that have the mandate to investigate will do so and do a good job at that,” she said on The Pulse, Monday.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

     

  • Bawumia can’t run away from economic mess – Anti-graft campaigner

    Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry Charles Adu Boahen, and Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia have all been named by anti-corruption activist Appiah Kubi as needing to resign over Ghana’s dysfunctional economy. Vice President Bawumia also chairs the economic management team.

    The anti-graft activist claims that the vice president’s poor handling of the economy cannot be excused.

    He said that the vice president, as the head of the EMT, was also complicit in the egregious economic mismanagement that, in his opinion, caused people to lose faith in Ghana’s economy.

    It is under the watch of the vice president that all rating agencies downgraded Ghana’s economy to Caa2, he noted.

    Mr Appiah Kubi added Dr Bawumia to the list while reacting to rumours from the vice president’s camp that he was not allowed to do his work.

    He spoke on Accra100.5FM’s mid-day news on Wednesday, 2 November 2022.

    He said for the past six years, the vice president and the two finance ministers have supervised the dwindling fortunes of the economy.

    These people have been at the helm of affairs and the country is suffering and Ghanaians have nothing to show due to economic challenges, he noted.

    He said, now everybody is suffering from the skyrocketing price of food, high inflation rate, cedi depreciation and soaring petroleum prices.

    Mr Appiah Kubi also added that in all these, the vice president remains the head of the EMT.

    He noted that the buck stops with the vice president when it comes to the management of the economy.

    “The vice president has no excuse for mismanaging the economy and he cannot jump ship when people are baying for the blood of the ministers,” Mr Appiah-Kubi charged.

    EDITOR’S NOTE & APOLOGY: ClassFMonline.com had earlier mistaken anti-graft campaigner Appiah Kubi for the NPP MP for Asante-Akim North, Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, and attributed some comments made by the former to the latter.

    We sincerely apologise to the MP for the error and any inconvenience caused him as a result of our earlier mistake.

  • MTN Group to invest US$150 million in network connectivity in Africa

    Throughout order to enhance its goods and services in Africa, The Mobile Telephone Network (MTN), a worldwide mobile telecommunications firm with headquarters in South Africa, has announced plans to invest up to US$150 million in network connectivity infrastructure.

    MTN’s international connect services, including voice, SMS, signaling, and roaming capabilities, are anticipated to improve as a result.

    This was announced in Accra at the opening of MTN Global Connect’s Network Operation Center by Mr. Frederic Schepens, the company’s chief executive officer.

    MTN Global Connect is a division of MTN that provides infrastructure services and manages the company’s global wholesale operations.

    It aimed at offering reliable wholesale and infrastructure solutions to fix connectivity and sell mobility solutions.

    Vice President Bawumia, who inaugurated the Centre, said the initiative was in sync with the Government’s digitalisation agenda to grow the Ghanaian economy and create jobs for the teeming youth.

    He said Ghana had been undergoing a massive digital transformation and, therefore, positioning her as a prime destination for insourcing and outsourcing by multinational technology companies.

    The choice of Ghana by MTN for its global network and service operating centres was further testament to the strides the country had made over the years and emerging as a destination of choice for global technology giants, Dr Bawumia stated.

    “The tangible sign of Ghana’s digital transformation justifies our vision to benchmark the country against the best in the world,” he added.

    Mr Ralf Mupita, the President of the MTN Group, in an address, said the Global Connect initiative was part of MTN’s 2025 Strategy to focus its resources and attention on the African continent to strengthen its fibre optic network to improve connectivity and services.

    He acknowledged the current global economic difficulties and underscored the need for Africans to rely on themselves to accelerate socioeconomic growth, create jobs and eradicate poverty.

  • Credit score platform coming next year – Dr. Bawumia

    According to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the country’s citizens and enterprises will soon have more access to credit facilities as a framework for the issue of personal credit scores is anticipated to be implemented in the first quarter of 2023.

    According to him, this will prove to be a key step in the restructuring of the domestic economy because the strong credit system it will lead to will increase consumption, investments, job creation, and overall prosperity.

    He stated this during remarks at the second annual Digital Banking, Innovation and FinTech Festival presented by Standard Chartered Bank, with the theme “Powering Africa’s Digital Economy: Platforms, Players and Policy.”

    Highlighting some of the tangible benefits of government’s ongoing digitalisation agenda, he said: “It is comforting to note that even the credit reference agencies are leveraging on these digital infrastructures we have put in place – the digital address system, national ID and so on; and we are expecting that individual credit scoring by the agencies will start taking place by the first quarter of next year. This will allow and underpin the development of a real credit system in Ghana, which is very critical in terms of the country’s development.”

    The Vice President said while the cost, particularly the initial investment, required for digital transformation of the economy has been significant, central government remains resolute as it is convinced that benefits will outpace the cost.

    “The costs are high, but we are unwavering because we believe the benefits will outweigh the cost – and they already are,” he said, citing among other things Ghana emerging as the only country to have a 100 percent score for financial inclusion on the back of mobile money interoperability, as captured by the ‘State of Inclusive Instant Payment in Africa’ report launched at the ongoing Mobile World Congress Africa 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.

    Touching on additional benefits of the drive, Dr. Bawumia further disclosed that 1,018 out of the 1,052 government institutions including ministries and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) have been successfully migrated onto the digital service and revenue collection platform – ghana.gov.

    With the remaining 34 institutions expected to be onboarded in the near term, the Vice President expressed optimism that the estimated more than US$3billion lost to corruption would have been saved – in addition to increased tax revenue and enhanced productivity from persons requiring the services of these bodies.

    “We are really seeing the impact of these digitisation initiatives, including efficient public service deliveries – as middlemen, ghost-names, the need to pay bribes and long waiting times will all be eliminated,” he explained.

    While reiterating government’s commitment to ensuring a stable socioeconomic environment for further digital investments, and calling for enhanced collaboration and robust regulatory regimes, he commended the scale and depth of the Festival; describing it as “a game-changer which significantly contributes to the efforts government is making in driving growth of the digital economy”.

    Customer focus and nimble feet

    The banking industry was implored to be agile in the face of the rapidly developing financial technology landscape by the First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Maxwell Opoku Afari, who warned that failure to do so will see them left behind.

    While chronicling how the BoG has pioneered leading innovation and relevant policies to make Ghana a fully-digitised economy – through the development of an effective and efficient retail payment ecosystem that is anchored on robust interbank infrastructure – he said the protection of consumers remains its overarching goal.

    “The consumer should be at the centre of our collective efforts. As such, the Bank will not relent in its efforts to protect them. It is in this vein that the Bank of Ghana has developed an artificial intelligence-powered, automated consumer complaint system – a chatbot – known as Akushika. This consumer experience solution is being developed as an additional mechanism to manage complaints and consumer protection,” he said of the tool that is currently in its pilot phase.

    Broad scope

    Chief Executive Officer at Standard Chartered Bank, Mansa Nettey, said the impact of the Festival’s maiden edition, coupled with the opportunity digitalisation presents for the economy to leapfrog in terms of development, resulted in broadening the scope and scale of discussions to cover Africa’s digital transformation – and touches on the very important theme of gender and inclusiveness.

    “We will explore opportunities that exist in using digital technology to unlock Africa’s economic growth and focus on regulations which protect and enhance digital trade, and delve into the future of banking, money and payment systems in solving the complex financial inclusion challenges on our continent,” she explained.

    “In a session dedicated to women in technology, we will discuss the urgent need for women-owned businesses to tap into the enormous opportunities offered by technology-adoption and explore investment opportunities to help female-owned businesses scale further and faster,” added Mrs. Nettey, who doubles as president of the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB).

  • FLASHBACK: Govt wont use taxpayers’ money to pay locked-up funds of unlicensed institutions – Bawumia

    Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president, has declared that the government will not use taxpayer funds to reimburse depositors whose funds were held hostage in the defunct Menzgold Company Limited.

    Menzgold is not a financial institution that is authorized, he declared.
    We are referring to licensed financial institutions, but if you set up your 419 institutions and the Bank of Ghana repeatedly warned people not to do business with Menzgold because they were not a licensed financial institution, then you cannot use taxpayer money to release funds that have been frozen at a non-licensed financial institution.

    The Akufo-Addo government will not use taxpayers’ money to pay depositors whose investments have been locked up in the now-defunct Menzgold Company Limited, Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said.

    Dr Bawumia told Agya Owusu on Techiman-based Link89.1 FM in the Bono East Region during his recent tour of that part of Ghana that, unlike the situation where the government rescued 4.4 million depositors whose funds got locked up in some banks and specialized deposit-taking institutions who were collapsed by their regulatory authorities over infractions and insolvency, the customers of Menzgold are not entitled to such rescue since they defied all warning from the Bank of Ghana to do business with an unlicensed financial institution.

    “Menzgold is not a licensed financial institution. We are talking about licensed financial institutions but if you set up your 419 institutions and the Bank of Ghana warned repeatedly that people should not do business with Menzgold because they were not a licensed financial institution, so, you can’t use taxpayers’ money to pay locked-up funds of an institution that is not a licensed financial institution,” Dr. Bawumia said.

    Two weeks ago, some aggrieved customers of the gold-trading company said they deserve a bailout just like the other companies that were licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and collapsed with a “written letter” because their operations were contrary to their terms of the license.

    According to the aggrieved customers, they deserve a bailout since Menzgold was under the regulation of SEC.

  • GFA presents customised Black Stars jerseys to Akufo-Addo, Bawumia and Kufuor

    A delegation from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

    The President and his vice were visited on Thursday, October 20, while ex-President Agyekum Kufuor was met on Friday, October 21, at his residence.

    The visit led by the President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku was to present customised Black Stars jerseys to the personalities.

     

    After receiving his gifts, the Ex-President also shared his rich knowledge in football with the GFA delegation as the country prepares for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

    The adored former president has become the latest to receive customised Black Stars jerseys from the Ghana FA.

     

  • Bawumia is clean and decorous; you can’t smear him with dirt – Opare Ansah to NPP internal saboteurs

    The Member of Parliament for Suhum Constituency, Hon. Frederick Opare Ansah has described as desperate propaganda an attempt by some faceless people to misrepresent Dr. Bawumia’s engagements during his working tour of some parts of the north this week.

    During his tour, which took him to the Northern and North East Regions between Sunday, October 2 to Wednesday, October 5, the Vice President paid courtesy calls on traditional rulers and inspected a number of ongoing Government projects, including Agenda 111 District hospitals.

    The Vice President also met with the party faithful, who he thanked for their continuous support to the government and urged them to, in spite of the current economic challenges, be proud of the NPP Government’s achievements in various sectors, which he listed to them.

    However, some people, who the Hon Opare Ansah says are internal party saboteurs, are, throgh social media, propaganda, spreading falsehood about the Vice President’s tour.

    It is these claims Hon Opare Ansah, who was a member the Vice President’s delegation for the tour, has completely rubbished as “desperate propaganda” by people he adds, desire to lead the party in 2024 and see the Vice President as a threat.

    Speaking to Omanhene Kwabena Asante on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme from the north on Wednesday after, Hon. Opare Ansah said even those behind the propaganda know very well how decent and decorous a politician Dr. Bawumia is.

    “Everybody knows Dr. Bawumia is a decent and a decorous politician who speaks to issues and doesn’t insult,” said Opare Hammond.

    “From 2007 when he emerged on the national scale, 2012, 2016 and 2020, Dr. Bawumia has been meeting people, and he has also been campaigning with the President. Have you ever heard he has said something indecent before?”

    “I sat in all the meetings throughout the tour and nothing like that happened. All that these desperate people are putting through propaganda, artworks and articles on social media are coming from our own NPP brothers, who support some other people who intend to lead the party.

    Opare Ansah described the Vice President’s tour of the North as very successful, as it gave him the opportunity to “inspect on-going projects, re-assure Chiefs and people of the north of government’s commitment to completing these projects, as well as provided opportunities for our party to interact with the Vice President on government’s development efforts, as he also thanked the party for their support to him over the years to partner President Akufo-Addo both as a running mate and as Vice President.”

    The Suhum MP had some words of advice to internal NPP members who specialise in deliberately smearing their opponents with dirt to desist from that, as it is detrimental to the overall interest of the NPP party.

    “Let us stop such dirty politics because it is not healthy,” he said.

    “We will finish the internal contest and face the NDC. In the past, some of these people said many things against Nana Akufo-Addo in 2007 and after our internal contest, the NDC used these lies against our candidate.

    “My advice to my NPP brothers is that we should have a healthy contest devoid of insults, lies and fabrications so that when you meet your brother in the future you can comfortably look him in the face and say this is my brother.

    “There is no iota of truth in their desperate propaganda
    You can’t deliberately throw dirt on your brother and turn around and accuse him of being dirty.”

    Dr. Bawumia’s delegation to the North included: the Minister of Interior Hon. Ambrose Dery, Sports Minister Hon. Mustapha Ussif, a number of Deputy Ministers, CEOs of State Agencies including immediate past National Organiser of NPP Sammy Awuku, Presidential Advisor on Health Dr. Nsia Asare, a number MPs from various regions, party executives and stalwarts of the NPP, including Chairman Odeneho COKA.

  • I’m satisfied with Agenda 111 projects in Northern Region – Dr Bawumia

    The Member of Parliament for New Juaben North, Nana Adjei Boateng, who called for a relook of drainage systems in Koforidua, has partly blamed the intense flooding on illegal mining activities upstream.

    Addressing the media after touring some of the projects to assess progress of work yesterday, Dr Bawumia said: “I am very happy with the pace of work so far; I never knew the contractors had gone this far.”

    The Vice-President began his two-day tour of the region last Sunday.

    Significance

    Dr Bawumia said the Agenda 111 initiative was an aggressive approach to addressing the healthcare infrastructure deficit in the country.

    He said after 60 years of independence, there were still about 90 districts across the country without hospitals to serve the people.

    “One of the things that we have to appreciate fundamentally is that Agenda 111 is really a bold initiative by the government because we are saying that every district should have a hospital; that is the vision,” he said.

    According to him, about 87 hospitals were at various stages of construction across the country, with the five regions of the north having about 27 of those projects.

    Courtesy call

    As part of the tour, the Vice-President paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Savelugu Traditional Area, Yoo-Na Yakubu Abdulai Andani, at his palace.

    He commended the chief for his immense contribution towards the attainment of peace in the region, saying: “You are the reason there is peace in Dagbon today and we must commend you.”

    For his part, Yoo-Na Andani lauded the government for initiating interventions which he said were helping to improve the fortunes of the people.

    He appealed for the establishment of a technical and vocational training institute in the area to help equip the youth with employable skills.

    Source: Graphiconline