The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has assured fisher folks at the Tema Fishing Harbour that government will be constructing modern cold store facilities for them to aid in storage of their fishes under good hygienic conditions.
Addressing fisher folks at the Tema fishing harbor as part of his tour to Tema, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia disclosed that government will also make available to the fisher folks some soft loans to support their businesses.
He said government has instructed the three development authorities, Northern, Middle Belt and Coastal Development Authorities to set aside portions of their budgets to be given out as soft loans to fisher folks and traders.
According to the Vice President, the premix distribution to fishermen have been significantly improved which has ensured that there is no shortage of the product.
Dr. Bawumia also indicated that government is constructing fishing landing sites across the coastal belts to improve the livelihoods of fisher folks as well as create jobs.
The Deputy Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Tema East, Daniel Titus-Glover assured the fisher folks that government will continue to support them in diverse ways to make their business flourish.
The Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is intelligent and hardworking according to the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuguon, Lydia Seyram Alhassan.
According to her,the Vice President has distinguished himself as a powerhouse of knowledge in the field of economics and management of the economy. She further stressed that,his prognostic ideas and policy alternatives is the reason why the Ghanaian economy is on the right track.
Addressing residents of Abelemkpe she said, “Without a doubt, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is a cistern of sound policies and programmes idyllic to develop Ghana.â€
“The Vice President is very intelligent and hardworking that is why am pleading with you to vote for me and President Akufo-Addo to continue our good works.â€
“Never in the history of Ghana, has a Vice President been so visible and notable in government business.â€
Lydia Seyram Alhassan stated that, Ghanaians should be proud to have had one of its own as a vice president, whose dedication to his work is unprecedented.
Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has said work on the Pwalugu dam has been halted due to rains and floods.
The dam is said to be the largest investment yet in the Northern Region of Ghana since independence.
Speaking on Asempa FM, Dr Bawumia said the multipurpose Pwalugu dam project will control and permanently end the Bagre dam spillage. This project however has been slowed by the rains.
“The contractors were waiting to do the earthworks; I went there recently and realised for myself that the rains are hindering progress, the rains must end first, the floods are still there.
Contractors are on-site with the needed machinery, but they want the water to dry up so they begin the earthworks. The clearing and camping have begun, they are ready to move with the work but the rains have to stop first,†he said.
The Vice President mentioned that the Pwalugu Dam, when completed, will irrigate another 12,000 plus hectares.
Dr Bawumia as part of his working visit to the region further inspected works on the reconstruction of the Tono Dam spillway channel in the Kassena-Nankana Municipal which got broken in October, 2019 after several days of heavy torrential rainfall.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says Ghana will become a completely transformed country in the next two years.
According to him, the incumbent government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is on the right track and will need more years to complete his vision for the nation.
Delivering a speech at the grand launch of “Aspirants Unite for Victory”, a movement by Parliamentary aspirants who lost in the 2020 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Primaries to unite and forge ahead for victory in the elections this year, Dr. Bawumia disclosed that Ghana will, in the next NPP administration, become one of the most digitized economies in the world.
The “Aspirants Unite for Victory” movement was launched on Monday, September 28, 2020 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in the Greater Accra Region.
The Vice President charged Ghanaians to give four more years to the Akufo-Addo administration to continue the good works, stressing it will be a grave mistake for them to vote former President John Dramani Mahama back to power.
“By the grace of God, in another two or three years, this is going to be a completely different country. We’re going to have completely new systems. We’ll be one of the most digitized economies on the face of Africa. There’s no doubt about that. Give us just a couple of more years, with what we’re doing, it is going to be an amazing country to live in. I believe so and so we don’t make all this progress and then go back to incompetence. We cannot chart this course and go back to incompetence,” he said.
He also advised members and supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party to have a common purpose as the nation gears up for the December 7 elections.
“I think that our collective interest must at all times override our personal interest. Our love for the party must be even demonstrated more in times of difficulty and not when all is well and rosy because that is easy for anybody to do. Aspirants Unite for Victory 2020 have shown the way and hope that they’re given the needed support as they join forces with the national campaign team to help canvass for votes from house-to-house, door-to-door and hamlet-to-hamlet to ensure a decisive and emphatic victory.”
“It’s our every expectation that the strength of our party from North, South, East and West; we’re united and poised to work for victory with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia Monday entreated parliamentary aspirants who lost the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary to the let the collective goal of the Party override their personal interests at all times.
Dr Bawumia, who launched the “Aspirants Unite for Victory Movement” made up of 220 defeated parliamentary aspirants and 42 sitting MPs who lost the primary, urged them to endeavour to drum home the massive achievements of the Government to the grassroots for a resounding victory.
The Vice President said the formation of the group provided added impetus to the collective goal of the party for victory in the 2020 elections.
“My spirit rejoices when I think about it that rather than grumbling and complaining about your loss, you have shown enthusiasm, full of energy and love by forming a movement…this is unprecedented,†he said.
“I’m encouraged by the love and zeal you have exhibited…your stories will be told positively in the near future.”
Vice President Bawumia said the dedication and zeal showed by the group indicated that the NPP was a team and united for victory on December 7.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand because in unity lies our collective strength…I’m so inspired by what you have done,” Dr Bawumia added.
Vice President Bawumia said there was so much at stake in this year’s election to determine the way forward for the country’s development, hence it was imperative to mobilise the grassroots for resounding victory.
He said the Mahama-led government exhibited gross incompetence in administering the nation during his four-year term in office as President, therefore Ghanaians should not entrust him with power to manage the country again.
Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, the Speaker of Parliament, who chaired the ceremony, lauded the resilience and boldness of the aspirants, saying despite the frustrations and disappointment in losing the primary they did not allow their defeat to overpower them, but were mobilising themselves to support the party’s campaign.
He urged them to take inspiration from President Akufo-Addo, who suffered many electoral defeats both within the party and general elections, but exhibited resilience and now at the helm of affairs as the President of the Republic.
Mr Kennedy Kankam, Convenor of the Movement and Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, who lost the primary, assured the party of their resolve to mobilise the grassroots for support for resounding victory on December 7.
He appealed to government and the rank and file of the party to support them in cash and kind for the campaign.
The Movement announced the adoption of two orphan constituencies – Upper West Akyem and Mion – to campaign for victory for their respective parliamentary candidates.
It will also intensify media engagements, production of documentaries on the party’s achievements and enhance its presence on social media.
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, and the leadership of the NDC, on Friday morning called on former President Jerry John Rawlings to commiserate with him following the passing of his mother, Madam Victoria Agbotui.
President Mahama, in a brief remark, described the loss of Madam Agbotui as a shared one because she was always on hand to give wise counsel whenever she interacted with him and other party members.
He consoled President Rawlings and encouraged him to take heart as Mama had lived a full life and had seen it all.
The NDC flagbearer said “Mama was the kind of person one would assume would live forever…â€
He also assured the NDC Founder that the NDC will participate fully in the funeral activities of the late Madam Agbotui.
President Mahama was accompanied by the Vice Chairman of the NDC Council of Elders Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, National Chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia and other national executives of the party.
Madam Victoria Agbotui died in the early hours of Thursday, September 24 at the age of 101.
Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will from today, Thursday, 24 September 2020 begin a two-day visit to the Bono Region.
The Vice-President, as part of his visit, is expected to visit Bongase in the Banda Constituency.
He will also visit Nsawkaw in the Tain Constituency and cut sod for the construction of a 29-kilometre Sinohydro road project at Sunyani Berlin Top in the Sunyani West Constituency.
At Nkrankwanta, the Vice-President will interact with the chiefs and people and cut sod for the construction of a 10-kilometre Sinohydro road project at Berekum.
He will later interact with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) executives.
Dr Bawumia is scheduled to be on Nimde3 FM where he will interact with the people of the Bono Region.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said that the governing New Patriotic Party’s proposal to introduce a flexible vehicle leasing scheme for commercial drivers is a safer and a better option than legalising Okada business in the country.
The NPP’s 2020 Manifesto has pledged to introduce a new transport financing scheme dubbed Transport Sector Recapitalisation policy, which will assist commercial drivers to own brand new vehicles being assembled in Ghana through flexible lease terms.
Throwing more light on the scheme and the controversial decision by former President John Dramani Mahama to legalise the commercial operation of motorbikes, Dr. Bawumia announced that instead of government legalising the risky operations of Okada, it is rather providing a better and safer option for Okada owners to upgrade to vehicle owners through the Transport Recapitalisation Programme.
He spoke during a strategic partnership signing ceremony between VW and Black Ivy in Accra on Wednesday.
“There’s been a recent discussion about Okada, this motorcycle transport. I think that in the context of what we are doing, we will rather encourage the Okada riders to come in and try to lease these vehicles so that they can run businesses,” Dr. Bawumia said, referring to the new VW cars which have been assembled in Ghana.
“In the Transport Sector Recapitalisation project, what we are proposing is for government to come in the middle to provide support for our drivers; the taxis, trotros and buses to be able to essentially lease these new vehicles that are being made in Ghana.”
The Vice President noted that after careful considerations by the government, it has decided not to legalise the Okada business in the larger interest of Ghanaians because it poses a major risk.
He urged owners and riders of Okada to consider their safety, and rather see a bigger and safer option in the NPP’s transport recapitalisation policy, through which, he said, they can lease brand new vehicles with their National ID cards and digital address system.
“They need to graduate from this risky and less safe Okada riding to a safer means of transportation.”
“Their problem will be a lack of capital, but if you bring in new leasing policy and we have our national ID cards with our digital address system and so on, we can have a credit system working and give you an option, other than this risky business.”
“Let’s give them opportunities to lease safer vehicles and pay over time. I think it is a better option than what the alternative thinks.”
“We don’t want you to finish graduate school and then take a life in Okada riding. You can have a better option, and we will give you a better option.”
The Akufo-Addo government is proposing a National Transport Recapitalisation Project which, if implemented, will provide a lease-to-own option to all commercial drivers, including Okada operators, to exchange their old vehicles or bikes for newly-assembled ones in Ghana.
According to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the issuance of national identity cards along with the implementation of the digital property address system, the mobile money interoperability and the universal QR Code, will all allow the development of a credit system with credit reference agencies to make the proposal work.
Dr Bawumia said this as the Guest Speaker at the joint launch of a strategic collaboration between Volkswagen and BlackIvy for the production of affordable homes and affordable cars for the Ghanaian people.
Dr Bawumia further noted that for the automotive industry to be successful, there must be enough domestic demand for the vehicles produced.
To this end, he reiterated that the Akufo-Addo-led government will be able to provide better options to Okada riders to lease-to-own vehicles if they choose to, and, therefore, the government will not legalise Okada operations.
“Every life matters and we will continue to ensure that safe, affordable means of transportation and livelihood are provided for every Ghanaian,†Dr Bawumia said.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has paid tribute to the late Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante-Antwi. Dr. Bawumia commiserated with the bereaved family, and said the deceased “was fearless and was not cowed by arbitrary use of power.â€
The former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana passed away in the early hours of Sunday at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
He served as the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral until his unfortunate demise. His death was confirmed in a statement by the Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat, Paul Opoku-Mensah.
In a Facebook post, the Vice President said the late Rev. Dr. Asante-Antwi served Ghana diligently.
“I have learnt with shock the passing of Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante Antwi, a founding member of the New Patriotic Party, former Council of State member under President Kufuor, former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana and until his death, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the National Cathedral Project,†Dr. Bawumia wrote.
“He really played an integral role in the transition from military regime to democratic dispensation.
“My condolences to the immediate family, the Church and his loved ones. I will miss Papa. Rest in peace man of God until we meet again,†he added. The late man of God became the ninth President of the Conference of the Methodist Church of Ghana when he was inducted into office in 1997.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s visit to Chereponi on Saturday was heralded with a heavy downpour, but enthusiastic constituents defied the rains to welcome him.
The Vice President who is on a working visit of the northern parts of the country, visited Chereponi on Saturday on the third day of his tour.
As the Vice President’s entourage arrived, news of his arrival spread through town and scores of people defied the heavy rains and trooped out to welcome him.
Before the Vice President and his entourage proceeded to the venue for his interactions, he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Chereponi Traditional Area, Nyanyame Kofi Malaba VIII.
The Paramount Chief commended Dr. Bawumia for his frequent visits to the area since becoming Vice President, as well as President Akufo-Addo for his flagship programmes, which he said are benefitting the poor.
The Paramount Chief was particularly grateful to the government for the Free SHS policy, as well as the One Village One Dam initiative, which he said have brought relief to farmers.
He also expressed appreciation to the government for bringing development to Chereponi, citing the water system in the area and the rehabilitation of roads in the area.
Dr. Bawumia who addressed identifiable groups inside a church auditorium but scores of people spontaneously trooped to the ground to catch a glimpse of him.
Dr. Bawumia said President Akufo-Addo has proven to be a leader who is for inclusive development through policies such as Free SHS, One Village One Dam, Planting for Food and Jobs, among others.
The Vice President urged them to reject former President Mahama’s lure for a second chance because his track record of cancelling pro-poor programmes such as teacher and nursing trainee allowances as well as Arabic instructors allowance, is an indication that he cannot be trusted with the good policies initiated by President Akufo-Addo.
Dr. Bawumia stressed that Nana Akufo-Addo as a development leader, has brought development to Chereponi in just three-and-half years and listed a number of projects in various towns within the constituency.
He urged them to vote massively for President Akufo-Addo in December to continue with his good works.
As the Vice President’s entourage set out to exit the town after the programme, scores of enthusiastic people on motorbikes and on foot, sang and escorted him.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says this year’s election will be contested based on track records and competencies, not on ethnocentric comments that divide the people.
He, therefore, condemned former President Mahama for endorsing an article which sought to whip up tribalism, and asked the NDC Flagbearer to apologise unreservedly.
Former President Mahama endorsed a disparaging and tribal-laced article written by Isaac Adongo, an NDC Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, by repeating it on his official Facebook page.
Many Ghanaians have since condemned Mr Mahama for highlighting the tribal-laced article.
Addressing a durbar of Chiefs and people of Gushegu on Sunday, Dr. Bawumia expressed surprise that Mr Mahama endorsed a statement that had the potential of causing disunity adding “Ghana is a united country, which has moved beyond the kind of divisive, and tribal politics by the former President.
The article referred to some members of the ruling government as “Akyem Sakawa boysâ€.
“How do you take a whole tribe and refer to them as Sakawa boys?” Dr. Bawumia asked.
He said Ghana had gone beyond tribalism and the Presidency cannot be won based on whipping up tribal sentiments to divide the people.
The Vice President noted that President Akufo-Addo was widely acknowledged as a champion of peace, having played a significant role in the resolution of the protracted conflicts in Dagbon.
“The Paramount Chief of Gushegu, Gushe-Naa, Abdulai Shitobu, on his part, praised President Akufo-Addo for his tireless efforts in bringing peace and harmony in Dagbon…”Dagbon owes Nana Akufo-Addo a depth of gratitude.”
“Nana Addo is an Akyem man, who has brought peace to Dagomba land through his effort, along with others, so we’re deeply grateful to him.”
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s visit to Chereponi on Saturday was heralded with a heavy downpour, but enthusiastic constituents defied the heavy rains to welcome the vice president.
The Vice President, who is currently on a working visit of the northern part of the country, visited Chereponi on Saturday on the third day of his tour.
Despite the Vice President’s visit not meant for a large congregation due to coronavirus safety measures, Chereponi eagerly waited for the arrival of Bawumia, and not even the heavy rains could stop them.
As the Vice President’s entourage arrived, news of his arrival spread through town and scores of people defied the heavy rains and trooped out to welcome him.
Before the Vice President and his entourage proceeded to the venue for his interactions, he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Chereponi Traditional Area, Nyanyame Kofi Malaba VIII.
The Paramount Chief commended Dr Bawumia for his frequent visits to the area since becoming Vice President, as well as President Akufo-Addo for his flagship programmes, which he said are benefitting the poor.
The Paramount Chief was particularly grateful to the government for the Free SHS policy, as well as the One Village One Dam initiative, which he said has brought relief to farmers.
He also expressed appreciation to the government for bringing development to Chereponi, citing the water system in the area and the rehabilitation of roads in the area.
Dr Bawumia addressed identifiable groups inside a church auditorium but scores of people spontaneously trooped to the ground to catch a glimpse of him.
Speaking, Dr Bawumia said President Akufo-Addo has proven to be a leader who is for inclusive development through policies such as Free SHS, One Village One Dam, Planting For Food and Jobs, among others.
The Vice President urged them to reject former President Mahama’s lure for a second chance because his track record of cancelling pro-poor programmes such as teacher and nursing trainee allowances, Arabic instructors allowance, and others, is an indication that he cannot be trusted with the good policies initiated by President Akufo-Addo.
Dr. Bawumia stressed that Nana Akufo-Addo as a development leader has brought development to Chereponi in just three and a half years and listed several projects in various towns within the constituency.
He urged them to vote massively for President Akufo-Addo in December to continue with his good works.
As the Vice President’s entourage set out to exit the town after the program, scores of enthusiastic people on motorbikes and on foot, sang and escorted him until he left the town.
Cabinet has approved the placement of all security agencies under one pension scheme in order to ensure uniformity of benefits.
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who announced this on Friday, [August 28, 2020] said all the security agencies are now to be placed under the CAP 30 Pension Scheme.
Vice President Bawumia made the disclosure when he reviewed, on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Graduation and Commissioning Parade for 150 officer cadets who made up Intake 27 of the Ghana Prisons Service in Accra at the Prison Officers Training School (POTS) in Accra.
The ceremony was the climax of the last of four batches of one thousand five hundred (1,500) new entrants for the Service drawn from varied professional backgrounds ranging from Accounting, Agriculture, Education, Engineering, Medicine and Social Sciences.
“I am happy to announce that Cabinet has approved the placement of all the security agencies under a single pension scheme, CAP 30.
“So personnel of the Prisons Service, Fire Service, Police and Immigration are all going to be placed under CAP 30, which the military is already under,” the Vice President announced.
“Government is also working closely with the Service to improve the health system within our prisons, especially in this era of COVID 19. It is well understood that the disease spreads quickly in enclosed places like prisons which are commonly epicentre for infectious diseases. This is of great concern to the government particularly where there is overcrowding.
“In addition to the forty (40) medical personnel seconded from the Ghana Health Service, government has provided prison establishments with PPEs, infrared thermometers, washing soap, tissue papers and Veronica buckets. I will like to commend the Prisons administration on the swift manner the Service joined forces with other agencies in the Criminal Justice System and Ghana Health Service to respond more effectively to the COVID 19 threat,” Dr Bawumia stated.
The creation of Risk Communication Teams in all prisons comprising medical, chaplaincy and communication staff to educate and address the myth and anxiety surrounding COVID 19 as well as to tackle issues of stigmatisation has so far been effective, the Vice President indicated.
Dr Bawumia charged the graduands to carry forth the ideals of the Prisons Service which have been imparted into them in the course of their training, adding, “Let discipline and professionalism guide your conduct at all times. Abide by the rules and regulations that guide your conduct as prison officers and direct your energies towards self improvement.”
Junior Under Officer Amos Benang won the Commandant’s Award, while Senior Under Officer Dr Florence Djoletoe, who was best in Academics, also emerged as the Best All-Round Officer Cadet.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says about 90 per cent of the country’s prison inmates have been registered onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to provide them with quality healthcare.
The cases handled included; fresh registration, renewals and replacements, which were done at no cost to the inmates.
Hopefully, the registration would be extended to all other prison establishments in due course, he added.
Vice President Bawumia announced this at the graduation ceremony of Officer Cadets Course Intake 27 of the Ghana Prisons Service in Accra on Friday.
In all, 150 officer cadets comprising 113 males and 37 females drawn from varied professional background including; Agriculture, Accounting, Engineering, Medicine and Social Sciences were commissioned into the Service.
Dr Bawumia stated that government was working closely with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to improve the health system within the prisons, especially in this era of COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is well understood that the COVID-19 disease spreads quickly in enclosed places like prisons which are commonly epicenters for infectious diseases.
“This was of great concern to the government particularly where there was crowding,” he noted.
In view of that, forty (40) medical personnel had been seconded from the Ghana Health Service, while government provided prison establishments with Personal Protective Equipment such as infrared thermometers, washing soap, tissue papers and veronica buckets to avert any mass spread of the virus, Dr Bawumia said.
Dr Bawumia stated that government had completed drafting the Bill on the Non-Custodial Sentencing and upon promulgation into law would provide Alternative Sentencing, including; probation, parole and community service into the country’s Criminal Justice System.
He further explained that the alternative custodial sentence has the potential of decongesting the prisons and significantly reduce the financial burden in managing the prison system.
On accommodation, Dr Bawumia said last year, the President requested the contractors working on accommodation facilities for officers to go back to site to complete blocks of flats at the Ankaful, Nsawam and the Roman Ridge Prisons Complex.
“We know that work had begun, and was progressing steadily until the unfortunate outbreak of COVID-19.
“It is our expectation that work will resume soon to complete the blocks of flats to help ease the accommodation problem of the Service, “he added.
Dr Bawumia charged them to internalise the principles of vigilance, discipline, humanity and fortitude in their dealings with fellow officers and the inmates.
He advised them to treat the prisoners with care, respect and decency without compromising on their professional ethics.
Vice President Bawumia Cabinet had approved the placement of all the security agencies under a single pension scheme, CAP 30, which is already enjoyed by the Military.
He condemned the frequent stigmatisation of ex-convicts and admonished the society to welcome them with an open arms.
The government, he said, had been providing skill training to the Prison inmates, especially those of school going age in the areas such as agriculture and other alternative livelihood vocational skills so that they would cater for themselves when they are released from prison custody.
Junior under Officer Amos Benang, the Winner of the Commandant’s Award and Dr Florence Djoletoe, the Best in Academic and also the Best All-Round Officer Cadet.
The exploits of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration is a great honour to the Zongo community in Ghana.
Alhaji Ali Suraj, a leading member of the Party in the Asawase Constituency who made the assertion, said Dr. Bawumia was serving as a worthy ambassador of Muslims and Zongos in the success story of the NPP since 2017.
He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi that the Vice President since his nomination by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as his running mate in 2008 had been a revelation and blessing to Ghana.
He said Dr. Bawumia was arguably the best Vice President under the fourth republic whose outstanding contribution to national development is not only impactful but also life changing.
“I have followed various Vice Presidents over the years and I can confidently say without any shred of ambiguity that, Dr. Bawumia stands tall among his peers,” he stated.
“His eloquence, deep understanding of governance and what it takes to bring development to the citizenry is simply unmatched,” Alhaji Suraj touted.
Alhaji Suraj said Dr. Bawumia’s in-depth knowledge of the economy, technology and governance which complemented the incisive and visionary leadership of President Akufo-Addo was taking the country to the path of growth and prosperity.
He said communicators of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) since the 2012 election petition had mounted a sustained smear campaign against the sitting Vice President but he continued to outshine them in all national discourse.
The incessant attacks on the then running mate of President Akufo-Addo led by the Zongo Caucus of the NDC, he said, was a deliberate attempt to discredit Dr. Bawumia who was a big threat to their political fortunes.
“It is unfortunate that our own Zongo people in the NDC were used to attack Dr. Bawumia because of politics, but today his performance in government has brought honour to the Zongo community,” he opined.
Alhaji Suraj who is a former Deputy Organizer of NPP-USA said the emergence of Dr. Bawumia on the political scene had always been a source of worry for the NDC because of his impeccable performance which had left the opposition badly exposed.
He said the NPP was destined to win the 2020 elections due to the numerous policy interventions implemented in the last three years and urged Ghanaians to renew the mandate of the party to consolidate the gains.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government has managed the public sector debt with prudent spending.
He told Kwame Sefa Kayi on Peace FM Tuesday, August 25 that even despite a total debt of around ¢9 billion, Ghana went into HIPC.
“At that time inflation was around 40 per cent, interest rates were in that range, exchange rate,” he said. “Today, you are having a debt stock of GH¢200 billion. We inherited a debt of GH¢122 billion but if you look at the rate of increase in the debt stock between 2016 and 2019, it is the lowest in the decade between 2009 and 2019.”
“If you include the banking sector bailout you have an increase in the debt stock of 9.3%, if you exclude the banking sector it is at 3.9 percent.â€
“In all the sectors our records are superior,” Dr. Bawumia noted.
He further explained that the government has been able to stabilize the economy in all sectors, slowed down the rate of debt accumulation and also reduced lending rate.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has superior records in all sectors of the economy as against the records of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
Dr Bawumia told Kwame Sefa Kayi on the Kokorokoo porgramme on Peace FM Tuesday, August 25 that “in all the sectors our records are superior.â€
He further explained that the government has been able to stabilize the economy in all sectors, slowed down the rate of debt accumulation and also reduced lending rate.
“When we came into office, Ghanaians were saddled with a lot of difficulties but we have been able to manage the economy, delivered a few solid records.
“Our fiscal deficit between 2016 and 2019, we brought it down, 6.8 to 4.8 per cent. Between 2016 and 2017 and 2019 , we had surpluses for three consecutive years and that was the first time in a decade; first time in a decade that we have had that then the rate of debt accumulation, increase in our debt stocks has also slowed down, decline in inflation, interest rate, we have also seen a decline in lending rate from 32 to 23 per cent.
“The monetary policy rate came down from 25 to 14.5 per cent, our trade surplus between 2017 and 2019, this is the first time in two decades that we have had trade surplus three consecutive years.
“Our exchange rate depreciation, the rate of depreciation has been halved to 50 per cent less compared to what we inherited. That is a major achievement.â€
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, made a presentation to tout the government’s infrastructural achievements in its first term in office.
The event was held at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Science in Accra and outlined major achievements under the current administration led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“Before the 2016 election, the NPP conducted a comprehensive survey on the development of Ghana. The survey revealed profound challenges.
“Notable among them were the large infrastructure deficit, their constraint on our development, their uneven distribution across the country, and the wide disparity in urban and rural development. This study informed our 2016 manifesto in the area of infrastructure,†Dr Bawumia said.
He added: “In total, about 17,334 individual projects have been started since January 2017.â€
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will open a multi-day conference in Accra on Thursday at which eminent economists from Ghana and abroad are going to prioritise the smartest solutions to the country’s challenges.
The conference is organised by the Ghana Priorities project, a collaboration between the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the award-winning think tank Copenhagen Consensus.
Over the past 18 months, a reference group drawn from the public sector, private sector, civil society organizations, academia, the media, identifiable groups and individuals identified 80 of the most promising solutions for Ghana. 28 teams of Ghanaian, regional and international economists have researched the costs and benefits of each.
Now, this research is presented to a panel of eminent economists who will rank all the interventions and establish what will do the most good for every cedi spent.
The Eminent Panel is comprised of Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance, Prof. George Gyan-Baffour, Minister of Planning, former Finance Minister Prof. Kwesi Botchwey, Prof. Augustin Fosu from the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), Prof. Eugenia Amporfu from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and Prof. Finn Kydland, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences.
Dr. Bjorn Lomborg, President of Copenhagen Consensus and named by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, will facilitate the work of the panel.
“It is a great honour to have Mr Ofori-Atta, Prof. Gyan-Baffour, Prof. Botchwey, Prof. Fosu, Prof. Aryeetey, Prof. Amporfu and Prof. Kydland studying the economic, social and environmental impact of policies to help inform the debate on priorities for a prosperous future. The results of their labours can help focus attention on the smartest policies for the country that do the most good for every Ghana cedi spent,†said Dr. Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, Director General of the NDPC.
The Eminent Panel’s prioritized list of the most promising policy pursuits will be presented on Monday, 10 August.
The Ghana Priorities Eminent Panel Event will be held at the Kempinski Hotel.
Vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Thursday, July 30, 2020, handed over 100 Hyundai buses to some selected Senior High Schools in the country, specifically, the North East, North West, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Oti, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions.
The handing over of vehicles to the education sector, the vice president said was in fulfillment of President Akufo-Addo’s commitment to ensure that the education sector is adequately resourced to deliver improved learning outcomes in the country.
Dr Bawumia assured Ghanaians that “This government will continue to invest in the education of its citizens because it is the right thing to do. We will continue to invest in the frontline managers of our educational institutions because they are central to any education reform we seek to pursue, and we must equip them with the necessary tools to enhance their work to enable them to deliver their mandate in a more efficient mannerâ€.
He further indicated that these 100 Hyundai buses procured were funded by the GETFUND.
In March 2020, a total of 365 Isuzu double cabin pickups were given to the metropolitan, municipal and district education offices nationwide.
The Vice President also handed 493 motorbikes to various district offices to aid the work of circuit supervisors as well as further enhance their supervisory roles in the education sector
Overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, His Majesty Nayiri Nabohagu Mahami Sheriga has confessed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with support from Dr Mahamudu Bawumia are indeed developing the country based on what he has seen.
The King who made the admission during a recent visit by the Vice President, however, indicated that just like Oliver Twist, he and his subjects in the entire kingdom will continue to still ask for more.
“You have given us much and we are proud of you…we pray for you and continue to stand behind you to continue to do more for the north. You and the President are working to make Ghana prosperous, contrary to claims by some persons that you are going to destroy the nation. May God guide and protect you and may machinations by your detractors that you fail backfire, “he prayed.
He reiterated that “you are in power to develop Ghana and not to destroy it and I will continue to pray that the almighty God will see you through this path.â€
On his part, Dr Bawumia conveyed the gratitude of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the King and his council of elders for their support during the three and half years of the current administration, reassuring them that the promise to continue to pursue a developmental agenda shall continue unabated.
“We are three and half years in government. We went into government with a promise for transformation in Mamprugu and government as a whole. It is evident that the transformation is being witnessed in Mamprugu in terms of roads and other infrastructural development,†he pointed out.
Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, prior to his nomination as vice presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party in the run up to 2008 general election was very much an unknown figure in Ghanaian politics.
In that election, the NPP lost in the run off as none of the candidates could secure 50+1 percent of the total valid vote cast. By then the presence of the now vice president of Ghana had not been felt. Perhaps he was warming up to take us all by storm.
Four years seemed very long but to the surprise of many, it passed at the speed of light. Campaigns and rallies were eminent and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia used these platforms to market himself and demonstrated to Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and the NPP that they have not made a bad choice by showcasing his intellectual muscle.
The confidence of the elite members of the NPP grew and it was evident, when he was entrusted to lead the party in court when they were dissatisfied with the electoral process in the 2012 general elections .
Dr Bawumia yet again did not disappoint the NPP and neutral Ghanaians. He artistically answered questions during his cross examination at the supreme Court. He also managed to punch hole in the entire 2012 electoral process.
It was that time when Ghanaians realised the NPP had a gem in the shape of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. Although the NPP lost the case but they used the supreme Court hearing to sell themselves as law abiding citizens and that violence is not the solution if you are dissatisfied with the electoral results.
Bawumia became a house hold name and a force to reckon with in Ghanaians politics after the 2012 supreme Court hearing and the NPP realized that. They then gave Bawumia enough room to operate and it benefited the party enormously. He portrayed himself as the economic Messiah at the time the economy of Ghana seemed to be in shambles. His famous referral of the then President Mahama as “incompetent” went down with some Ghanaians.
Today, he is the most priced asset of the NPP just like the Queen in the game of Chess. His ability to pull votes from every part of Ghana adds value to his standings.
And if the wants to retain power beyond 2024, they should think of making Dr Mahamudu Bawumia their flag bearer. This will definitely go down with a lot of northeners as the first son of their land to lead a party in the forth republic
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has noted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has brought substantial development to the Zongos of the country through fulfilling its electioneering promises to them.
He stressed that prior to the ascent of the NPP to power, the Zongos had no clear cut interventions by government that impacted the lives of the people significantly, adding that the establishment of the Zongo Development Fund and the Ministry of Inner Cities and Zongo Development have been great vehicles that have propelled development of the Zongos.
He made these remarks today while meeting with the Chief Imam to officially inform him of his renomination as vice presidential candidate for the NPP.
Dr Bawumia appealed to people of Zongo communities to renew the mandate of the NPP in the upcoming elections so that they can witness more development.
“During the 2016 elections campaign, President Nana Akufo-Addo was here and I came with him. He promised the National Chief Imam that should God make him President, he would look after the welfare of the Zongos and Muslims. He will run an inclusive government,†he said.
“As we prepared our 2016 manifesto, we looked at the Zongos and we identified two key problems that we thought God willing if we had the chance, we would address. One was education,†he added.
“It is in that context that President Nana Akufo-Addo did two things. First, he established a whole ministry for inner city and zongo development as well as the Zongo Development Fund with funding provided for in our annual budgets.â€
“If you go around a lot of Zongos now, you will feel the impact of this ministry whether it is a classroom blocks, toilet facilities, drainage, systems, water, roads, bridges, clinics, etc. The Ministry and the Zongo Development Fund are addressing many problems in Zongos across the country,†said Dr. Bawumia…The only way any community can break out from poverty, sustainably, is through education and this does not just apply to the Zongos. It applies to the whole world,†Dr. Bawumia asserted.
The Vice President was in the company of the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr. Freddie Blay and Member of Parliament for Okaikoi Central, Hon. Patrick Boamah.
Mahamudu Bawumia was born into a large family, he was the 12th of his father’s 18 children and the second of his mother’s five. He got married to Samira Bawumia and he has only four children.
Samira Bawumia who is a Ghanaian politician and the Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana. She is the founder and CEO of the Samira Empowerment & Humanitarian Projects (SEHP), described as a not-for-profit organisation established with the purpose of empowering the underprivileged in Ghana through diverse social intervention projects to improve lives.
Mahamudu Bawumia has been very successful in his career and has achieved so many awards. Him and his wife have a great family and below are the stunning photos of Him and his family;
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has received rave reviews from the overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, His Majesty Nayiri Nabohagu Mahami Sheriga for his stellar role as the second gentleman of Ghana.
The Nayiri also noted that the people of the north are ever proud of him.
The Nayiri stressed that Dr Bawumia, a true son of his kingdom, has not denied them their fair share of the national cake, commending him for the various interventions in the area since he assumed the position as the second gentleman of the land.
During a courtesy call on him by the Vice President to inform him of his selection as the running mate to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the December 2020 Polls, the King enumerated some interventions in terms of development by the current government, emphasising that the interventions are worth commending, reason the residents of the area will forever be grateful to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“You have performed so well as a Vice-President for the entire nation and we are proud of you…we pray for you and continue to stand behind you to continue to do more for the for Ghana and the north. You and the President are working to make Ghana prosperous, and we are all beneficiaries of policies such as our new regions, free SHS, one village one dam, one constituency one ambulance, planting for food and jobs, the roads, the schools, NABCO, and the ongoing construction of the Pwalugu Dam. To do all this in just your first term of office is remarkable. You have honored your promises to us.
May God guide and protect you and may machinations by your detractors that you fail backfire, “he prayed.
He reiterated that “you are in to develop Ghana and not to destroy it and I will continue to pray that the almighty God will see you through.”
On his part, Dr Bawumia conveyed the gratitude of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the King and his council of elders for their support during the three and half years of the current administration, reassuring them that the promise to continue to pursue a developmental agenda shall continue unabated.
“We are three and half years in government. President Nana Akufo Addo went into government with a promise for transformation of Mamprugu, the North and Ghana as a whole. It is evident that the transformation is being witnessed in Mamprugu, the north and Ghana. But we still have more to do and we ask for your prayers and support for four more years for President Nana Akufo-Addo to do more for you,” he stated.
He took the opportunity to list other important projects being embarked by government which, he argued, attest to the fact that the Akufo-Addo government surpasses any other government in the history of the fourth republic in terms of development within a government’s first term.
The Overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, His Majesty Nayiri Nabohagu Mahami Sheriga, has heaped praises on Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia for supporting the development efforts of the north since the assumption of office.
He said Dr Bawumia is a true son of his kingdom, who has never denied them their fair share of the national cake, and, thus, commended him for the various interventions initiated in the area.
Nayiri Sheriga made the remarks when the Vice President paid a courtesy call on him, to inform him of his selection as the running mate to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the December 2020 elections.
The King enumerated some of the development interventions rolled out by the current government, saying; “The residents of the area will forever be grateful to you and the New Patriotic Party.”
“You have performed so well as a Vice President for the entire nation and we’re proud of you.
“We pray for you to continue to stand behind the President and to do more for the nation and the north. You and the President are working to make Ghana prosperous, and we are all beneficiaries of policies such as Free SHS, One-Village, One-dam, One-constituency, One-District, One-Ambulance, Planting for Food and Jobs, road infrastructure, school buildings, recruitment of NaBCo personnel, and the ongoing construction of the Pwalugu Dam.
“To do all this in just your first term of office is remarkable. You have honoured your promises to us.
“May God guide and protect you and may machinations by your detractors fail and backfire”, the King prayed for the Vice President.
On his part, Dr Bawumia conveyed the gratitude of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the King and his Council of Elders for their support during the three and half-years in government, reassured them that, it would continue pursuing developmental agenda.
“We are three and half years in government. President Nana Akufo Addo went into government with a promise for transformation of Mamprugu, the North and Ghana as a whole. It is evident that the transformation is being witnessed in Mamprugu, the north and Ghana. But we still have more to do and we ask for your prayers and support for four more years for President Nana Akufo-Addo to do more for you,” he stated.
Dr Bawumia listed other important projects being embarked by government which attested to the fact that the Akufo-Addo government had surpassed any other government in the history of the Fourth Republic.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has retained his vice, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, as his running mate for the Presidential elections in December.
The announcement which was greeted with unanimous cheers was also approved by the National Council and the National Executive Committee (NEC), making him the official running mate for Akufo-Addo.
“Today I have the honour to put into consideration with you my choice of running mate for the fourth time, the excellent hardworking vice president Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia. With your endorsement, the party will complete its presidential ticket.
A feat that appears to elude some of our opponents. We have no such difficulty we have a most fitting person to feature on our ticket and I give you Mr digital, Mr you and I were not there, the economic prophet, the Adam Smith of Walewale, my good and loyal friend, Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia,†he proclaimed amidst cheers.
This means that Mr Bawumia has been selected by the NPP flagbearer for the fourth straight time.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Bawumia expressed gratitude to Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP for choosing him again and promised not to disappoint the President and the party.
Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama and by extension, the National Democratic Congress are yet to make public the running mate of the NDC flagbearer.
Although a number of individuals have been speculated, Mr Mahama has noted that he is not under pressure to make the announcement and would do so in due time.
Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has indicated that the digitisation of the Births and Deaths Registry is near completion.
He added that the registry digitisation process, which is 80 per cent complete, will have its database integrated into the National Identification Authority.
He further explained that the database integration will also include Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Dr Bawumia made this known on Thursday, 25 June 2020, after he paid an unannounced visit to the Registry in Accra to monitor the progress of work.
He posted: “I paid an unannounced visit to the Births and Deaths Registry in Accra for a first-hand view of the progress of the ongoing digitisation of the registry.
“I was happy to learn that thus far, 80% of their records have been digitised and we should see the process completed this year. When completed, the database of the births and deaths registry will be integrated with that of the National Identification Authority for the issuance of a single national identification number for everyone from birth to death. The database will also be integrated into other agencies such as SSNIT and NHIA.â€
He also mentioned that a new Births and Deaths Registry bill, which has been approved by Cabinet is yet to be submitted to Parliament.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s sister, Lariba Z. Abudu has defeated the Deputy Agric Minister who is also a member of parliament for Walewale constituency, Mr. Sagre Bambangi, in the Walewale NPP primaries for the Walewale constituency.
After the votes, Lariba pulled 275 votes while Sagre Bambangi obtained 96 votes.
Other aspirants namely Zakaria Yidana, Seth Boyoyo, Ishak Ibrahim, and Alutia Suzana obtained 23, 43, 24 and 161 votes respectively.
She has become one of the few women to win a parliamentary primaries for the NPP.
The Deputy Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority (NDA) thanked all delegates for believing in her as she assumed office and charge her to work tirelessly to retain the NPP seat in the constituency.
She however pledged to work in hand with the other candidates to ensure victory for the New Patriotic Party in the upcoming elections.
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The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has launched the government’s scholarship scheme for postgraduate training of Ghanaian medical doctors.
The scheme, launched at the Jubilee House on Thursday, is a fulfilment of a promise made by President Akufo-Addo in 2016 to fully fund the postgraduate training of Ghanaian medical doctors.
Under the scholarship scheme, the tuition fees of 918 residents and senior residents enrolled by the College of Physicians and Surgeons for the 2019/2020 academic year, will be fully paid for by the government.
Speaking at the launch, Vice President Bawumia revealed that a total amount of GHC 6,885,000 (six million eight hundred and eighty-five thousand) Ghana Cedis has been released to the College to offset more than half of the projected budget of 11 million GHS which the College required to achieve its mandate this year.
The Vice President said access to good healthcare is not only about providing physical infrastructure, which he said the government is committed to, but also investing in health professionals to deliver quality service.
“Access (to healthcare) is not only in providing physical infrastructure. We need the health professionals who deliver the services, who are well trained to be able to make the difficult decisions, sometimes even tragic choices, in delivering health services. Training is therefore critical if any health system will survive over time,” said Dr. Bawumia.
The Vice President further stated that in fulfilment of its promise to fund the postgraduate training of doctors, government, in line with the terms of conditions of service document signed with the Ghana Medical Association for doctors and dentists, agreed to provide direct funding towards the training of doctors to lift burden off medical facilities who were hitherto struggling to fund their doctors.
“We realised that the previous arrangements of funding training through health facilities was severely hampered by the ability of facilities to pay. This led to an unfortunate situation when some facilities could not rely on their own funding to provide the needed staff training.”
“Under this new funding arrangement, the Ministry (of Health) has successfully fulfilled its obligation for the 2018/2019 academic year, and I am happy to announce that all the school fees for the 918 residents and senior residents enrolled in the 2019/2020 academic year has been covered under this new arrangement with the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat.”
College of Surgeons and Physicians
The Vice President commended the role of the College of Surgeons and Physicians in the training of doctors in various fields since it was established by the government of President John Agyekum Kufuor to provide local opportunities for doctors dentists to further their medical education in the country.
Having enrolled its pioneers in September 2004, graduated in September 2007, and inducted into Membership of Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in December 2007. The College has since produced 565 specialist physicians and 647 specialist surgeons – a total of 1 212 as at the end of 2019,” Dr. Bawumia recounted and applauded the College for its contribution.
Government committed to quality healthcare delivery
While reiterating government’s commitment to supporting the building of health infrastructure and the training of personnel through the scholarship, the Vice President urged the College to maintain its dedication to the training of of doctors.
“I would like to stress that this government is committed to the health of Ghanaians and will do everything possible to assure all citizens of accessible, affordable and available health service delivery across the nation,” Dr. Bawumia said.
“We are committed to investing in all aspects of the health system in physical infrastructure and soft infrastructure by leveraging on technology to leapfrog our development.”
“Together, we must work to ensure that the distribution of medical personnel across the country does not put some at disadvantage.”
Present at the launch was the Minister of Health, Dr. Kweku Agyemang Manu, who expressed the Ministry’s delight at the Scholarship Secretariat’s intervention to absorb the fees for the postgraduate training of doctors.
Others present were: Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Okoe Boye, Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Kingsley Agyeman and representatives of the Ghana Medical Association and Ghana College of Physician and Surgeons.
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has reiterated President Akufo-Addo’s commitment to providing an equitable distribution of healthcare facilities across the country.
The Akufo-Addo government has undertaken extensive health infrastructure projects in rural communities across the country, and with the Coronavirus pandemic exposing the nation’s deficit in equitable spread of facilities, President Akufo-Addo has announced an audacious investment to build 88 new district hospitals and 6 regional hospitals.
Speaking at the launch of government scholarship for postgraduate training of doctors in Ghana at the Jubilee House on Thursday, Vice President Bawumia said despite the government’s efforts in concentrating healthcare facilities in deprived communities in the past three years, the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic has exposed the inequitable distribution of health facilities in the country, hence President Akufo-Addo’s bold initiative to solve the age-long problem.
“Whilst we can all be proud of what we have managed to achieve so far in the fight against the pandemic, we have also been humbled by the ferocity of the pandemic, laying bare some of the shortcomings in our health system and what we have not done well as governments,” Dr Bawumia said.
“The underinvestment in our health infrastructure, our material shortfalls, our manpower capabilities, and our vulnerabilities in fighting medical catastrophes are hard lessons.”
“We have achieved phenomenal progress in access in the past three years. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has set the tone of what is ahead of us. He is making clear that improvements in the distribution of health infrastructure is a high priority for his government.”
“The focus is on delivering on the largest investment by any government in our healthcare infrastructure in the last fifty years by constructing
88 standard design 100-bed hospitals with accommodation for doctors and nurses in the Districts without hospitals, 6 new regional hospitals in the six new regions, and infectious disease centres for each of the three ecological zones: coastal, northern and middle belt zones in the country, and as well as the Ghana Centre for Disease Control,” Dr Bawumia stated.
The Vice President further indicated that the government will complete on-going hospital projects and their related infrastructure, as well as review major bottlenecks in the acquisition of medical equipment, including the excessive reliance on loans.
The launch of the scholarship for postgraduate training of doctors is a fulfilment of a promise by President Akufo-Addo to fully fund the postgraduate training of Ghanaian doctors.
Postgraduate training scholarship for doctors
About 918 doctors who have been enrolled by the College of Physicians and Surgeons will benefit in this year’s scholarship programme.
Their entire fees for the 2019/2020 academic year has been fully covered by the Scholarship Secretariat under a new government arrangement.
Government, in fulfilment of its 2016 election promise by President Akuffo-Addo to fund the postgraduate training of doctors, decided to absorb the fees of doctors who enrolled for postgraduate training for the 2018/2019 academic year through the Ministry of Health.
The Scholarship Secretariat has now taken over the settlement of the fees under a new arrangement, which was launched on Thursday.
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has stated that his outfit will be running a clean campaign hence all politicians must adhere to that ahead of the 2020 elections.
He advised Ghanaians to desist from doing politics of insults.
“We want a very free, fair and violent-free election. We won the power or mandate of the people when we were in opposition. And so, we have to just send a message of what did we do when we had the opportunity to serve the people. What exactly have we been able to do,†said Dr. Bawumia.
“That is what the election should be fought on; the record. Record of what you have been able to do and what you have planned to do,â€he told Joy FM
“In terms of what we say, the President has always made the point that we should make sure that how we speak and what we say to the public bring about peace, bring about understanding.â€
“I think if we all focused on that, there should be no acrimony. And allow the electoral commission to do its work and we will all come in and participate in this great expression of democracy during this election.â€
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has indicated that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is ready to contest the 2020 elections on the phenomenal record and leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Speaking during an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday morning, the Vice President said elections should not be a contest of insults and acrimony, but a presentation of record and vision to the people of Ghana.
“We want a very free, fair and violent-free election. We won the power or mandate of the people when we were in opposition. And so, we have to just send a message of what did we do when we had the opportunity to serve the people. What exactly have we been able to do,” said Dr. Bawumia.
“That is what the election should be fought on; the record. Record of what you have been able to do and what you have planned to do.”
Dr. Bawumia added that going into the elections, the principle of the NPP is to resort to decent and fair conversation, which will bring about peace and understanding to the people.
He urged other stakeholders to also emulate such progressive way if campaigning, not acrimony.
“In terms of what we say, the President has always made the point that we should make sure that how we speak and what we say to the public bring about peace, bring about understanding.”
“I think if we all focused on that, there should be no acrimony. And allow the electoral commission to do its work and we will all come in and participate in this great expression of democracy during this election.”
Phenomenal Akufo-Addo record
Dr. Bawumia touted the leadership and achievements of the Akufo-Addo government in the past three and half years, saying the government will fight the election on that record.
“In terms of our management of the economy, we are very happy and we are willing to fight on the record of what we have achieved across board,” he said.
“We are really looking forward to discuss our record and the record of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the last three and a half years. It is a splendid record; a fantastic record that we are willing and able to discuss and fight the election on anytime.”
Extolling the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, Dr. Bawumia said the achievement of the Nana Addo government is acclaimed globally and also stands tall among first-term governments in the history of the fourth republic.
“It is a phenomenal record and I am very proud of the president and his leadership that has brought us this amazing record. It is a record that is being touted the world over by the way, not just us.”
“It is a great record when you look at the history of the fourth republic. When I actually look at it, I am amazed sometimes how much has been accomplished in just three and half years.”
Vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in May 2018 asked for the prayers and support of Ghanaians to enable the NPP administration deliver all of its flagship programmes.
“It is amazing what we have been able to do in 16 months, governments in the past for 8-years have not been able to do what Nana Akufo-Addo has been able to do… our government is a government of ideas… it is not a government of create, loot and share,†says Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during the Eastern Region leg of his nationwide Ramadan Tour on May 20, 2018.
It is often said that the teacher’s reward is in heaven. But that was not the case in Napkanduri on Sunday when emissaries from  Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, led by Mr Solomon Boar, North East Regional Minister, arrived at the home of 75-year-old Mr Jacob Duuti.
Mr Duuti taught the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia at Sakasaka Primary Scchool in Tamale and Dr Bawumia has never forgotten the positive influence of this special teacher Duuti on his life.
Mr Duuti and his family were surprised when he was handed a brand new tractor to assist in his farming business.
He was in shock and shed some tears of joy as his family and community celebrated the good news.
After receiving the tractor, the elated former teacher of the Vice President expressed appreciation and prayed for God to continue to bless Dr Bawumia and grant him more wisdom to serve the country.
Mr Duuti recalled nostalgic memories of the Vice President during his days as a primary school pupil in Tamale at the Sakasaka Primary School.
“Bawumia was brilliant and inquisitive. He was always asking questions and I am not surprised about how high he has risen in life. I am so proud as his teacher,†he said.
Mr Duuti shared a memorable childhood picture of the Vice President; a picture of young Bawumia dressed in full regalia as a lawyer during a speech and prize giving day of the Sakasaka Primary School.
Mr Duuti further revealed that Dr Bawumia acted as a lawyer in a play as part of activities of the speech and prize giving day.
According to him, the Vice President was very articulate and said he wanted to be a lawyer like his father.
But he later went on to read banking and economics after his secondary education at the Tamale Secondary School.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says the COVID-19 pandemic should provide an opportunity for businesses and institutions to adopt relevant technology to improve service delivery.
He said business would not be as usual after the pandemic and institutions have no option than to subscribe to digital technology for efficiency.
Vice President Bawumia said this when he launched an Integrated ICT System for Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) at the Jubilee House, in Accra.
The ICT platform is an innovative solution to enhance transparency and accountability in the disbursement and recovery of loans. It would also address payment and settlement challenges as well as reach out to the wider unbanked population in the underserved communities.
Also, challenges associated with loan applications and low loan recovery rate would be a thing of the past and improve access to the target beneficiaries such as small-and-medium scale businesses and associations.
All beneficiaries are required to have MASLOC cards, Tax Identification Numbers(TIN) and digital addresses for easy tracking.
He said technology formed an integral part of President Akufo-Addo’s government vision of digitising government machinery and enhancing public service delivery.
He said it would propel the country’s agenda of building a digital economy and becoming the preferred business destination in Africa.
Dr Bawumia said the global COVID-19 pandemic has reaffirmed the President’s belief that building a digital economy is the way to go and would be the catalyst for development after the pandemic.
He said even before the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, government has started implementing digital architecture to transform the economy and thus, mentioned the rolling out of the Mobile Money Payment Interoperability System, National Digital and Property Addressing System, QR Code, Instant Pay and Ghana Link as some of the platforms to digitise the economy.
“I believe the ICT System will breathe fresh air of efficiency into the operations of MASLOC in terms of processing loans, increase access to products and services and reduce human interface.
“This is a major transformation of MASLOC and it would bring a huge element of transparency and accountability,” the Vice President said.
Consequently, the Centre would not give out loans based on one’s political affiliation, but to all qualified Ghanaians.
Dr Bawumia was of the conviction that the IT solution would improve the confidence and give impetus to the Finance Minister to grant more liquidity for MASLOC’s operations.
Mr Stephen Amoah, the Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC, said the Centre was established in 2006 to close the equity gap between SMEs and large businesses.
He said the ICT platform would enhance efficiency in the operations and administration of loan disbursement and recovery, as well as protect the public purse.
It would also be useful to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, NBSSI and other national financial institutions in disbursement of funds.
The Centre, he said, has disbursed more than 115 million Ghana cedis to 97,195 beneficiaries over the past three years, compared to about 75 million Ghana cedis disbursed between 2009 and 2016.
Mr Amoah said it has created 570 new jobs and opened 200 offices in rural areas. Also, it has established Internal Audit and Entity Tender Committee and Internal Audit Unit to enhance efficiency and transparency in its operations.
The Centre, he said, would share its data with other universal banks and financial institutions to enhance loan disbursement to rural folks across the country.
Currently, MASLOC has formed partnership with ARB Apex Bank to improve service delivery.
The Deputy National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Biney, has said Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia‘s recent comments comparing ‘dumsor’ to Coronavirus pandemic means there is a total confusion at the Presidency.
According to him, whiles President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is calling for Ghanaians to desist from politicizing Coronavirus, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is not adhering to the directive from his immediate boss which suggest that there is a total confusion at the Presidency.
“Recent statements by Dr. Bawumia means there is a total confusion at the Presidency, because what the President is saying different from what the Vice-president and the Information Minister said, I don’t understand why Dr. Bawumia will ignore a directive from his boss to resort in politics in this COVID-19 era,” he said on Accra-based Kingdom FM.
“President Akufo-Addo has failed Ghanaians woefully in the fight against coronavirus in Ghana, why must the lockdown be lifted looking at the high increase of coronavirus cases in Ghana, instead of you to find solutions to control the coronavirus epidemic you are doing a comparison of ‘dumsor’ to Coronavirus,” he added.
Dr. Bawumia has advised Mahama to speak based on the data available with regards to how the economy is performing and stop running the risk of embarrassing himself.
“We have been able to perform much better on the situation we inherited. In fact, the data makes it very clear.
“My humble advice to former President Mahama is to take a look at the data. This is not green book data, this is the real data, look at it again before you speak, otherwise, you will end up embarrassing yourself,” he stated
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, popularly known as General Mosquito has taken a swipe at the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The NDC scribe said the Vice President has demonstrated that he has nothing good to offer in Ghana’s fight against the novel COVID-19.
General Mosquito said recent comments by Dr. Bawumia shows that he is not adhering to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo‘s directive of taking politics out of the fight.
He explained that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 in the country, every instruction given by the President has been flouted by NPP government officials.
“I think that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has nothing to contribute to the COVID-19 debate and fight and he wants people to stop concentrating on the virus and talk about probably the one-village-one-dam, one-district-one-factory and one-constituency-one-million dollars because since the outbreak of the virus, I have not heard anything from him except that he launched an app (the COVID-19 Tracker App) which they said can track people with the virus . . .
” . . Every attempt made by these people is aimed at shifting our focus from the fight against the virus and in the end discuss something different, but if the President is satisfied that there is no emergency anymore, then he should lift the restriction and do his politics,” he stated.
According to the NDC Chief Scribe, whereas President Akufo-Addo has called for nationalistic approach to resolve the COVID-19 scourge, his very own appointees at every given opportunity do not say anything about the pandemic.
He cited the action by the National Identification Authority (NIA) the first day President Akufo-Addo banned public gathering to continue registering people in the Eastern Region, and the EC’s decision to hold a meeting on the elections with its regional officers in Accra as examples.
The Minority in Parliament has tongue-lashed Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for playing politics with the fight against the deadly coronavirus when the country is in a critical state.
According to the minority leader in parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, the impact of the COVID-19 on the economy has been devastating to the extent that lots of people have lost their jobs due to the outbreak of the disease.
He indicated this is the time government has to focus every attention on the COVID-19 that threatens the foundation of the country rather than comparing this national crisis to dumsor.
Haruna Iddrisu professed, “if government puts substance on COVID-19 and its impact on citizens lives and the life of the economy, you will not have a talkative vice president go to the level of relating that to dumsor.â€
He averred that the Akufo-Addo government lacks foresight in the fight against the COVID-19 because they are more interested in seeking re-election for Akufo-Addo instead of thinking about the safety of Ghanaians.
Adding that, almost “3months into the pandemic, government has no idea about the scale of the problem as they are still trying to formulate a testing strategy that allows us to estimate the general prevalence of COVID-19 on a timely basis.â€
However, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Monday said the NPP government has shown better leadership skills in managing the economy and alleviating the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian against the COVID-19 crisis.
He explained that his comparison was based on how the previous government managed the 2013 to 2016 power crisis (dumsor), which crippled some businesses; and how the current government was managing the COVID-19 crisis.
Dr. Bawumia made the analysis during his interaction with the Presidential Press Corps at the Jubilee House.
General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia is assertive in his conclusion that the directives given by President Akufo-Addo to fight the deadly new coronavirus are not binding on the members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He explained that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 in the country, every instruction given by the President has been flouted by NPP government officials.
Commenting on Dr. Bawumia’s recent attack on the NDC Presidential Candidate, John Mahama, General Mosquito as popularly called maintained that the Vice President simply wants to introduce irrelevant issues other than the COVID-19.
“I think that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has nothing to contribute to the COVID-19 debate and fight and he wants people to stop concentrating on the virus and talk about probably the one-village-one-dam, one-district-one-factory and one-constituency-one-million dollars because since the outbreak of the virus, I have not heard anything from him except that he launched an app (the COVID-19 Tracker App) which they said can track people with the virus . . .”
” . . . Every attempt made by these people is aimed at shifting our focus from the fight against the virus and in the end discuss something different, but if the President is satisfied that there is no emergency anymore, then he should lift the restriction and do his politics,” he stated.
According to the NDC Chief Scribe, whereas President Akufo-Addo has called for nationalistic approach to resolve the COVID-19 scourge, his very own appointees at every given opportunity do not say anything about the pandemic.
He cited the action by the National Identification Authority (NIA) the first day President Akufo-Addo banned public gathering to continue registering people in the Eastern Region, and the EC’s decision to hold a meeting on the elections with its regional officers in Accra as examples.
“The conduct exhibited by his members since the directives were issued make me feel safe to draw this conclusion that the laws of the President are made for the opposition and not members of his government,†he asserted.
John Jinapor, former Deputy Power Minister and MP for Yapei/Kasawgu constituency, has asked Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to credit where it is due by acknowledging the efforts of the previous Mahama regime in resolving the ‘dumsor’ crisis in the country before President Nana Akufo-Addo took up the reins of government.
He also asserted that there was higher and better economic growth under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama.
Bawumia’s Account On Mahama Economy
Speaking to journalists at the Jubilee House on Monday, May 5, 2020, Dr. Bawumia reminded the former President that he superintended over a weak economy between the years 2012 and 2016.
The Vice President slammed Mr. Mahama for failing to mitigate the economic crises his own administration created for the Ghanaian populace.
This was after the latter cynically questioned the much-touted robustness of the Ghanaian economy, describing it as being in an ICU just a month into the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of local businesses.
“If you want to test the robustness of an economy, you test it in a time of crises. Thankfully, we have had two crises. Under the NDC, it was an internally-generated crisis, which was dumsor. Under the Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo, there has been an externally generated crisis, which has been the global Coronavirus pandemic.â€
“I just want you to ask yourself, how have these two crises been managed? The dumsor crisis which crippled this economy for four years. What were the mitigating measures offered to businesses and individuals during the dumsor, an internally generated crisis?†the Vice President questioned.
Trust Akufo-Addo in times of crises Bawumia
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He further stated; “We saw that even during dumsor, electricity prices were being increased, fuel prices were being increased, teacher trainee allowances were being cancelled, nursing trainee training allowances were being cancelled. All of that was happening during that particular crisis.â€
“You look at the Coronavirus crisis and you look at the difference in terms of what has happened. The President has reduced electricity prices and has made it free for lifeline consumers. He has given free water to all Ghanaians for three months, has made sure that there is a stimulus package of 600 million Ghana Cedis for businesses and we have seen domestic production of PPEs (personal protective equipment) for our health workers locally.â€
Check the data well before you speak else you will embarrass yourself Bawumia tells Mahama
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John Jinapor’s Rebuttal
But to John Jinapor, Ex-President John Mahama is a better driver of the economy than President Akufo-Addo.
He wondered how the government could subsidize electricity bills in these trying times of COVID-19 if not for the interventions that the Mahama administration made to resolve the energy crises.
Making his submissions on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, he maintained strongly that President Akufo-Addo didn’t inherit a ‘dumsor’ economy from the Mahama administration, adding that the current government is enjoying the fruits of the good works of its predecessor.
The Yapei/Kusawgu MP therefore challenged the Vice President to compare the performance of the current administration and erstwhile Mahama government, with particular emphasis on the energy sector.
“If the NPP say we didn’t resolve it, tell us when you resolved dumsor. At least that should be settled. If you say when you took over, there was still dumsor; are we saying we still have dumsor and if it’s resolved too, tell us the period you resolved it,” he said.
Former deputy Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson has urged Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia to desist from comparing data on the performance of the Mahama administration and the current one since the Akufo-Addo government has been abysmal.
According to him, the plethora of unfulfilled promises by the Akufo-Addo administration and the ballooning national debt makes them lose credibility before Ghanaians.
“Now, on the rant about data, Available data points to your monumental failure to keep your word to the Ghanaian people.
“When is Dr. Bawumia going to make available the $18 billion Chinese loan he promised us? When is he going to draw down on the $2 billion sinohydro loan? What happened to “No village in Ghana will have a challenge with toilet and water provision within 2 years of an NPP Government? How about your promise that “Every Ghanaian will have a bank account by end of 2018. Cedi arrested and the keys given to the IGP? yet you have failed to check the free fall of the Cedi,†he wrote among other things.
It comes after the Vice President in a jab encouraged former President John Mahama to compare data before speaking.
“This time in the lives of our country is really not a time for politics, we are facing a global pandemic and the focus of the President is leading to make sure the right things are done to protect the lives of Ghanaians. that notwithstanding, we have seen that the former President John Mahama has been making some statements and it has been proven that many of those statements are untruths.
“The data is very clear and so my humble advice to the former President is that he should take a look at the data before you speak otherwise you would end up embarrassing yourself. Agriculture growth, we have performed better, Industrial growth, we have performed better, Inflation rate, we have performed better…this is the data…when it comes to jobs we have created more jobs,†Dr Bawumia stated on the sidelines of a COVID-19 meeting at the Jubilee House on Monday, 4 May 2020.
He added “I can say without any fear of contradiction, the data shows that in the history of the Fourth Republic, there is no government that has provided as much infrastructure across all sectors in its first term than the first term the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. If you want to challenge that please bring your data.â€
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has predicted a radical change to the outlook of global economy after the coronavirus pandemic.
The deadly coronavirus, which started in China last year, has not only devastated humanity, it has also ravaged economies around the world as countries battle to stop the virus.
Writing on his Twitter account on Friday, Dr. Bawumia predicted the effects of the pandemic will change the global economic outlook.
“The post COVID-19 global economic architecture is going to be a radically different one,” wrote the Vice President.
With countries, especially African nations, leading their own unique charge against COVID-19, Dr. Bawumia has also predicted that the experience will make African countries more self reliant, especially in the production of goods and services.
“It will usher in more self-reliance in the production of goods and services. We in Africa have to get ready for this future.”
Many respondents to his tweet commended and agreed with the Vice President’s tweet.
One of them was economist, Professor Peter Quartey of the University of Ghana, who added that Ghana must position itself and produce a lot of import substitutes.
“Well said Veep,” wrote Professor Quartey.
“Ghana certainly has to position itself and produce a lot of import substitutes. The small business soft loans to be administered by NBSSI can make a lot of difference if it is well targeted and given to deserving businesses,” he added.
The post COVID-19 global economic architecture is going to be a radically different one. It will usher in more self- reliance by countries in the production of goods and services. We in Africa have to get ready for this future.
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has donated 500 Cedis to each of the stranded Kayaye (head porters) who were stopped at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region on their way to the Northern Region.
The head porters, numbering about 76, had attempted to flee from Accra back to their hometowns in the wake of the President’s order for a partial lockdown in the Capital City and other parts of the country, but their journey back home was unsuccessful as it fell within the lockdown time on Monday.
Their attempted mass crossover to the north was seen as a threat to stop the spread of the virus in the country, and they were thus stopped from proceeding by security officials, who returned them to Accra.
Despite the temporary provision of shelter for them by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, many have raised concerns over the plight of the Kayayes under the current circumstance, as business activities in the heart of Accra have come to a halt.
It is in response to this that the Vice President has donated 500 Cedis to each of them to ameliorate their plight during the period of the partial lockdown.
The donation was made on behalf of the Vice President by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama. She was accompanied by Dr. Sagare Bambangi, MP for Walewale and Mustafa Ussif, CEO of the National Service Secretariat.
Hajia Alima Mahama also revealed that President Akufo-Addo has directed that government assist all Kayaye head porters by giving each of them GH 10 cedis per day to buy food throughout the lockdown period.
Meanwhile, the Vice President has also urged all Ghanaians to continue to observe the preventive measures of regular washing of hands with soap under running water, while they observe the partial lockdown at their respective homes.
“While we stay at home to prevent the spread, let us continue to adhere strictly to all the preventive measures to avoid the spread of the virus,” he urged.
“Let us continue to wash our hands regularly with soap under running water, as well as constantly use alcohol-based hand sanitizers to sanitize our hands. We shall overcome, inshaa Allah.”
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has advised religious leaders and Ghanaians to adhere to preventive measures in public places to see to it that coronavirus does not find its way into the country.
He advised them to avoid handshakes and other close contacts in public places as the government is doing everything possible to prevent the virus from entering Ghana.
Speaking at the Centenary Anniversary of the Presbyterian cluster of schools in Suhum Dr Bawumia said: “This infection is largely spread through contact and so many countries are putting in measures and we in Ghana can’t be oblivious. So far the government is taking measures and the Ministry of Health has announced various measures put in place to try and deal with this. To our traditional leaders, we will have to think about how frequently we shake hands with each other across the country. It is a risk we have to take, it is difficult to change this attitude but we have to put everything aside and do what is needed. Let’s wash our hands regularly, cover your mouth and nose when sneezing because you could spread in that manner”.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service has allayed fears that there is a suspected case of coronavirus in the Ashanti Region.
The suspect showed symptoms of the virus in Kumasi over the weekend shortly after his return from Germany where over a hundred cases have been recorded.
But an emergency test conducted on him tested negatives which brings the number of suspected cases in Ghana to 30 all testing negative according to the Ghana Health Service.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye has, however, said calls for President Akufo-Addo to be quarantine is not necessary.
There are calls from some legislatures for the President to undergo detailed checks and quarantine upon return from his trip abroad in the wake of the outbreak of the Coronavirus in Europe.
The number of people killed worldwide by the coronavirus has exceeded 3,000, as China reported 42 more deaths.
A leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Allotey Jacobs has admitted Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has raised political discourse in the country to a level which is making it very difficult for his party to match up.
Speaking as a panel member on Peace FM’s morning show, Kokrokoo on Tuesday, Allotey Jacobs averred that Dr. Bawumia’s series of intellectual presentations were becoming a worry to the NDC , and expressed concern over his party’s inability to match-up to the Vice President.
“He is doing something that as communicators and party leaders, we should watch out,” said Allotey Jacobs.
“Dr. Bawumia’s lectures target the Intellectual community and then other people who form the structure of our society are also targeted and invited,” Allotey Jacobs said on Tuesday during a discussion on Dr. Bawumia’s delivery at the Government’s Town Hall Meeting on Monday.
Allotey Jacobs, who is also a former Central Regional Chairman of the NDC, said Dr. Bawumia exhibited his intellectual prowess in opposition by delivering a series of lectures, which contributed in sending the NDC out of power.
He added that even in government and in an election year, Dr. Bawumia is repeating same, expressing worry that his part, the NDC, has so far found no antidote to match up to the Vice President.
“He did this kind of presentation while in opposition, and in government too, he has taken over and doing same,” said Allotey Jacobs.
“We weren’t serious and our communication wasn’t cohesive and this ensured that the NPP won the election.”
“Dr. Bawumia has driven into our political space. From 2017 up to now, he has occupied about 2/3 of our political space. We have been criticising him but the more you mention him, the more he resonates with the people,” the former NDC regional chairman added.
Allotey Jacobs expressed both admiration and worry over Dr. Bawumia’s latest delivery at the Government Town Hall meeting in Kumasi, describing the Vice President’s presentation as a separation of propaganda and facts.
“He (Vice President Bawumia) has digitized our communication and he has separated propaganda and facts,” Allotey Jacobs said, in reference to the Town Hall Presentation by the Vice President.
” I won’t even go into the details of his presentation, but I’m looking at it from afar and asking are we going to leave it again when he is occupying the political space? Look, this is greater than what he did at Central University.”
“Look at the people present. Chiefs, this, that; from all our social structure. They were all invited and they were allowed to ask questions.”
“What I’m saying is, who can come forward and punch holes in the presentation of Vice President Bawumia?”
When show host, Kwame Sefa Kayi told Allotey Jacobs that NDC party communicators have already started responding to Dr. Bawumia’s presentation, Allotey Jacob gave a less enthusiastic response.
“They say monkeys play by sizes. That is why I am saying we need someone who can match up to Dr. Bawumia,” Allotey told show hist Kwame Sefa Kayi.
DR. BAWUMIA RAISING THE BAR
The NDC elder expressed worry over the parties inability to nominate a running mate, adding that Dr. Bawumia is raising the bar to make things even more difficult for the NDC.
” Up to now, we haven’t even nominated our running mate,” Allotey Jacob’s lamented.
“What Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is doing is that he is raising the bar to the extent that we need somebody like him to interface with him.”
“When you listen to Dr. Bawumia’s presentations, he is very eloquent and he spices his presentations with his twi to make it even more exciting.”
“When you are doing analysis of a person and how to defeat that person, you bring all these things on board. We need somebody at his level to face off with him.”
“Dr. Bawumia has raised the bar and I want to plead with my brother President Mahama to get a running mate who can match up to Dr. Bawumia.”
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will grace the launch of the 2019/2020 Ghana Football Season at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday as the Special Guest.
The Vice President leads the list of distinguished guests invited to grace the event, which will usher in the return of domestic league after nearly two seasons break.
