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Tag: Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

  • Who is Matthew Opoku Prempeh? Ghana’s potential next Vice President

    Who is Matthew Opoku Prempeh? Ghana’s potential next Vice President

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has made headlines since December 2023 when their 2024 flagbearer, Mahamudu Bawumia, asked for more time to select his running mate.

    Speculations and analyses filled the media, discussing potential candidates and the advantages of choosing someone from particular regions.

    On June 26, 2024, it was revealed that Bawumia had presented a name to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Several media outlets reported that the chosen running mate was Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as Napo.

    Dr. Opoku Prempeh, a royal, is seen as a strong choice to rally the party’s base for the 2024 elections. He is a trained medic and has been a lawmaker since 2009, serving as a cabinet minister since 2017. His profile highlights a blend of experience in medicine, politics, and leadership.

    Who is Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh?

    Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh is the Minister for Energy and the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Manhyia South constituency in the Ashanti Region. He was born on May 23, 1968, in Kumasi, where he completed his primary, secondary, and tertiary education.

    At the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology in 1992 and a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree in 1995. He served as a House Officer at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from 1995 until 1997. He then continued his education at Erasmus University in The Netherlands, earning an M.Sc in Clinical Epidemiology in 1998.

    Dr. Prempeh worked in the United Kingdom, becoming a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow in 2002. He returned to Ghana in 2003 to pursue a career in business and politics. He is also a Harvard Scholar and an alumnus of the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program.

    Political Career

    Dr. Opoku Prempeh entered Parliament on the NPP ticket during the 2008 general election, representing the people of Manhyia. After the constituency was divided, he became the MP for the Manhyia South Constituency in 2012 and retained the seat in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

    In 2017, President Akufo-Addo appointed him as Minister for Education. During his tenure, he successfully implemented the Free Senior High School program, curriculum reforms, and teacher reforms. His team also promoted Technical, Vocational Training, and Education (TVET).

    Following the NPP’s victory in the 2020 general elections, Dr. Prempeh was nominated as Minister for Energy. He has since led several major projects, including rural electrification, renegotiation of power agreements, and improving Ghana’s clean energy goals.

    Awards and Recognition

    Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh was named Best Minister in 2017 and 2019. He received the 2020 Harvard Ministerial Medal of Achievement for his exemplary leadership.

    He also holds two Honorary Doctorates from the University of Education, Winneba, and the University for Professional Studies, Accra.

    Recently, he was named one of the top 25 Movers and Shakers in the Energy Sector by the African Energy Chamber.

  • Adongo’s lecture in response to Bawumia’s vision abruptly cancelled due to venue withdrawal

    Adongo’s lecture in response to Bawumia’s vision abruptly cancelled due to venue withdrawal

    The highly anticipated lecture by Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, aimed at responding to the 70-point vision presented by Vice President and NPP Flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been abruptly canceled. 

    This cancellation comes following the withdrawal of permission by the managers of the Chartered Institute of Bankers to host the event under the auspices of the Coalition For Restoration (CFR).

    According to CFR, Isaac Adongo, the ranking member of the finance committee, was slated to utilize the occasion to address what the coalition described as factual inaccuracies in the Vice President’s presentation. 

    However, in a statement released to announce the cancellation, CFR cited the sudden reversal of permission by the venue managers, who raised concerns about the political implications of hosting the event.

    The statement issued by CFR reads, “The Coalition For Restoration, CFR had earlier advertised its intention to present Hon Isaac Adongo, MP for Bolgatanga Central and Ranking member of the finance committee of Parliament in a public lecture to respond to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, vice president and presidential candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). 

    However, due to circumstances beyond our control, the lecture cannot be delivered as advertised on the said date.”

    Explaining the situation further, CFR stated, “The cancellation has been occasioned by the decision of the managers of the venue to reverse their decision to permit us usage of the venue. For the purpose of clarity, managers of the Chartered Institute of Bankers called this morning to inform us that they were canceling our bookings for the venue. They explained that their policy frowns on politics.”

    The group expressed shock at the sudden turn of events, as they had previously notified the venue managers about Isaac Adongo’s participation in the event without any objections. CFR also apologized for any disappointment caused by the cancellation, noting that payment for the venue had already been made and receipts issued.

    “At the time of booking for the venue, we made it clear that it was going to be an economic lecture where at least one of the speakers is a politician belonging to the NDC. We further assured them that we were not going to wear party shirts for attendance. We subsequently made full payment for the venue and got a receipt for it. But, things probably changed after our flyers/posters went viral advertising Hon. Isaac Adongo as the main speaker. We were called on the phone this morning to tell us that our booking has been canceled.”

    The cancellation has left many eagerly awaiting the lecture disappointed, raising concerns about the challenges of hosting politically oriented events in certain venues.

  • Over 1.1m untracked small arms and light weapons pose security threat in Ghana

    Over 1.1m untracked small arms and light weapons pose security threat in Ghana

    The National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has raised alarm over the alarming number of untraceable small arms and light weapons circulating in Ghana, posing a significant threat to national security. 

    According to the commission, out of the total 2.3 million small arms and light weapons currently in circulation, over 1.1 million cannot be adequately tracked or monitored.

    Speaking at a regional conference addressing the humanitarian impact of improvised anti-personnel mines, Frank Boateng Asumani, the Head of the National Arms Marking Programme at the Commission, highlighted the urgency of addressing the proliferation of these unaccounted weapons. 

    He disclosed that efforts are underway to curb their circulation and enhance security measures.

    “Presently, there are 2.3 million small and light weapons in circulation, with only 1.2 million being legally registered. The remaining 1.1 million are unaccounted for, prompting the commission to seek funding to assess the extent of proliferation within the system. These include AK47s, pistols, pump-action guns, and locally manufactured firearms,” stated Asumani.

    The revelation underscores the need for robust measures to address illegal arms trafficking and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to prevent these weapons from falling into the wrong hands. 

    The unchecked proliferation of small arms and light weapons poses a grave threat to public safety and stability, as they can fuel armed conflicts, criminal activities, and undermine peace and security efforts.

    In response to the growing concerns, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has urged nations, including Libya, Egypt, and Morocco, to prioritize ratifying the convention banning anti-personnel mines. 

    Dr Bawumia emphasized the importance of preventing the humanitarian consequences associated with these weapons, underscoring the need for international cooperation to address shared security challenges.

    The Ghanaian government, in collaboration with regional and international partners, is expected to intensify efforts to combat illicit arms trafficking, enhance border security, and strengthen legal frameworks to regulate the possession and transfer of firearms. 

    Such initiatives are crucial to safeguarding national security and promoting peace and stability in the region.

  • Election 2024: Bawumia will defeat Mahama hands down – Dr Mustapha Hamid

    Election 2024: Bawumia will defeat Mahama hands down – Dr Mustapha Hamid

    Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Dr Mustapha Hamid has argued that it will be very easy for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to beat John Mahama in the 2024 Presidential Election given their credentials and the policy positions they have both espoused so far.

    Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana show last Thursday, Dr Hamid while declaring his support for Dr Bawumia’s bid to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) argued Dr Bawumia is in pole position to beat John Mahama, the presumptive flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

    “Well, I back Dr Bawumia. He’s going to win the NPP primaries. There is absolutely no doubt about it. Oh yeah! It’s done. I am sure the others [ aspirants to the flagbearer position] know. But it’s a competition so it’s okay for them to show up…So inside the NPP, he is going to win. Then when it comes to the national [ level], that is an even easier job. Have you heard John Mahama articulate any serious policy position? I don’t know; I haven’t heard. He has absolutely nothing to his name.

    I want to sound very respectful. But with the greatest of respects, John Mahama is quite empty. And where we are as a country, we don’t need that hollowness, that shallowness. We need depth. We need deep thinking. We need someone who knows the craft of Government to be able to fashion out the kinds of programmes that will transform this country. And those are the programmes that under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and with the support of Dr. Bawumia, the NPP has put all the way for the transformation of this country…We are going to make sure that by the time we go into the elections in 2024, Ghanaians have absolutely no doubt in their minds that Bawumia is the choice,” he expatiated.

    Campaigns for the 2024 Presidential Election have started in earnest even though Ghana’s dominant parties – the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are yet to select their flagbearers. John Mahama is predictably the NDC’s candidate for the election while it is still anybody’s game for the NPP even though Dr Bawumia is amassing massive support from party grassroots and high-ranking officers.

  • Kwadaso kicks against Alan – Bawumia comparison

    Kwadaso kicks against Alan – Bawumia comparison

    Former New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Samiu Kwadwo Nuamah is against calls for Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen to be paired on the party’s presidential ticket for the 2024 elections.

    According to the former MP, the party will rather be dealing unfairly with the two if it heeds to calls for the vice president and the former trade and industry minister to be paired.

    “I don’t know what they mean by merging Bawumia and Alan, we wouldn’t be fair to them if that should happen,” the former MP is quoted in a report by Oyerepafmonline.com sighted by GhanaWeb.

    Mr Nuamah who was reacting to Mr Kyerematen’s announcement of his intent to contest the NPP flagbearership, is the latest of members in the party who have kicked against the idea of pairing the two.

    His belief is that, such a pursuit will go against promoting healthy competition in the party.

    However, those who are proposing for the two to be paired believe that putting the two on a ticket will go a long way to guarantee victory in the NPP in 2024.

    The NPP later this year is expected to elect a flagbearer.

    Mr Kyerematen on Tuesday, January 10, 2022, announced his intent to contest for the NPP flagbearer after he resigned from his position a few days back.

    His resignation has been joined by that of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Afriyie Akoto who is also expected to announce his bid in the next few days.

    The two join the likes of Assin North MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong and former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko who have all announced their intent to contest as the party’s flagbearer.

    While Vice President Bawumia is yet to officially announce his bid, he is deemed one of the lead contenders in the race to elect a flagbearer of the NPP.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Bawumia promises police more security devices to help combat crime

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has reassured personnel of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) of government’s plan to supply them with ‘valuable weapons’ required to combat crime and create a safe environment for all.

    He is hoping to leverage on government’s digitisation drive after the successful integration of databases and systems to make for easy and flexible verification and identification of persons of interest or even suspects.

    If the said valuable weapons are successfully delivered and connected to integrated databases, Dr Bawumia said it will help to “leapfrog many other advanced countries” in the area of surveillance and crime fighting.

    Dr Bawumia said this when he received $2 million worth of mobile devices and software packages to help in tailing suspects who may be on the police watch list in a bid to bring digitisation to bear in protecting the citizens.

    Bawumia promises police more security devices to help combat crime

    ‘’If you’re going to benefit from digitalisation, you cannot allow the system that you’re setting up to sit in silos.

    “You have to integrate the systems so that you can benefit from knowing if you’re in a crime database and you integrate it with the national ID database, you can tell when you meet somebody who is on the crime database that this person is either a criminal or someone who is wanted.

    “So the issue of integration of the police database with the NIA database is very important. With these devices (mobile device software) it is very important that when the Police meet you on the street they can tell who you are with or without your Ghana card.

    “They can tell if you’re wanted or not. They can tell whether the vehicle you’re driving is registered or not because you’re linking the databases. So it is a valuable weapon in the fight against crime and the protection of the public and the safety of the public.”

    The Vice President who has been spearheading government’s digitalisation drive described the donation as the beginning.

    “We are going to see more and more devices in the hands of police officers across the country so that policing will be very effective.

    “This is something that Ghana and Service will be proud of because we’re moving into an area where in fact many advanced countries are still trying to get into that area.”

    The Inspector General of Police Dr Akufo Dampare who was visibly excited about the donation expressed optimism about how it will help the men in uniform as part of the police transformation agenda.

    “We can’t wait to use them because we know it will transform policing in Ghana.”

    On his part, the Executive Director of Margin ID groups of companies who are partnering with the National Identification Authority (NIA) in the production of the Ghana Card said, the donation is to complement the work of the NIA, plus an added advantage.

    ‘’We support the Police because we can see the dynamism within which the Police has increased visibility. And with the encouragement of the Vice President, we are ready to support the Police in their digitisation agenda as part of the national digitisation policy.

    “The Police protect us all, so our corporate social responsibility objective is to help them continue on the dynamic trail on which they are. Having done a tour of the police facility, I’m even more convinced that this donation is in the right direction.

    “Our donation is an extension of the national identification infrastructure which today has over 17.5 million people on their database both foreigners and nationals who are the centre of the digitisation agenda because it allows everybody to know people who are accessing resources and who they claim they are.’’

    The technology is also expected to help put surveillance on suspects wherever they may be in the country.

    “The Police in this sense will be able to identify people in real-time with the device management platform with or without the Ghana Card in whatever part of Ghana that they are. They can also in real-time tell people who are on a watch list for whatever reason of crime and will be able to bring digitisation to bear in protecting the citizens.”

    The company has since donated 100 mobile device software that have been delivered to the Ghana Police Service with a promise to donate more going forward.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Government to seek World Bank support for Pwalugu multi-purpose Dam project

    The government would talk with the World Bank about building the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam in the Talensi District and seek funding for it, according to vice president Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

    In Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, the Vice President informed Mr. Pierre Frank Laporte, Country Director of the World Bank, that “we would be discussing this project further with you, so that we can see to its construction.”

    Dr Bawumia was speaking at the launch of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project in the Region’s capital.

    The SOCO project is a multi-country US$450 million credit facility from the World Bank to be implemented in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin.

    Its objective is to provide support to the Northern parts of the Gulf of Guinea countries which suffer instabilities owing to food insecurity, climate change, conflict and violence.

    The project would be implemented in 48 Districts across the Upper East Region, Northern, Upper West, North East, Savannah and Oti Regions with an amount of US$150 million out of the total amount.

    Dr Bawumia said, “The Pwalugu Dam is a project that I believe the World Bank should really take a keen interest in, as development partners.”

    He said even though the Dam project was dear to the government it faced financial challenges. “We are facing financial challenges as many countries are, at the moment, but we want to make sure this project sees the light of day, and is completed,” he said.

     President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in November 2019 cut the sod to commence the construction of the Dam Project estimated at US$993 million.

    The project, expected to be constructed by a Chinese firm, Power China International and supervised by the Volta River Authority within three years, had not commenced even though there had been several stakeholder engagements and feasibility studies over the years.

    It has three key objectives, the capacity to generate 59.6 megawatts (mw) of hydropower, 50mw of solar power, develop irrigation potential for the cultivation of 25,000 hectares of land and flood control.

    Naba Yelzoya Kosom Asaga II, the Paramount Chief of the Nangodi Traditional Area, who chaired the launch of the SOCO project, in his address, emphasized the need for the construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam.

    He said the irrigation component of the project would improve agriculture in the Region, especially during the dry season, as the poor rainfall pattern affected crop production.

    Naba Asaga II said the expected hydropower generation would complement the power from the National grid to the Region and possibly reduce the frequent power outages residents experienced.

    He said the appeal by the Vice-President was on point, adding, “The Vice President hit the right cord, he just nailed it, and I support the appeal and would want the World Bank to immediately support the project.”

  • Private company invests US$10 million in Water Sector

    Mr Fredrik Sunesson, Managing Director of 4Ward Development West Africa, said the company has so far invested more than US$10 million into the water sector alone and intends to invest 1.1 million US dollars in the Upper West and Savannah Regions.

    He said an additional US$ 5 million US would be injected into the company’s operations in the coming two years.

    Mr Sunesson announced this during the commissioning of the Numa Purified Water System by Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, under the enhancing Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) programme.

    He said the company would continue to push for growth and expansion with the provision of safe and clean water to about 25,000 customers in 10 communities this year alone.

    Mr Sunesson said the 4Ward Development West Africa was a private sector company providing safe, sustainable, and innovative water services to complement public sector provision.

    “We work alongside the government in achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-Goal 6) to ensure clean water and sanitation for all,”, he said.

    Mr Sunesson announced that aside from the Tuna facility, the company had installed three customer-centred community water services at Kulmasa, Gindabour, and Blema in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District in the Savanna Region.

    It also provided similar facilities at Kandeu, Poyentanga, Ga, and Nyoli in the Wa West District and one each at Luggo in the Wa East District and Boli in the Wa Municipality, which added up to 10 communities in total, serving more than 25,000 people with safe and affordable water services.

    Mr Sunesson gave the assurance that in 2023, the company would build and operate an additional 15 customer-centred community water services in the same areas.

    He said more than 200 people, mostly women work with the company as vendors, technicians, and marketers and provided a range of water services that allowed the company to focus on job creation as a core corporate mission.

    Tunawura Daniel Safo Mahama Amantana, Chief of Tuna pleaded with the company to consider extending the provision of water services to other communities within the district.

    He said it was the expectation of the people in the community to ensure everlasting cordial and partnership relations between them and the company for the development of more water sources for the communities.

    Source:GNA