Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, considered as the most credible and trusted vice president of the Republic of Ghana, and his wife Samira Bawumia have sent their best wishes to Muslims in Ghana and all across the world as they observe the holy month of Ramadan. Vice President Bawumia and his wife Samira Bawumia extended their sincere wishes for a plethora of blessings, peace, and tranquillity to every family and household during the holy month of Ramadan in a social media post.
Alhaji Mahamudu and Hajia Samira
“As we embark on another sacred journey of fasting and prayers in the month of Ramadan, Hajia Samira and I extend our warmest wishes to Muslims in Ghana and the world over,” Dr. Bawumia said. The Islamic month of Ramadan is the ninth in the year and is a time when Muslims around the world observe a fast from dawn to dark, skipping meals and other basic demands. It is a season of introspection, heightened worship, and charitable deeds.
Dr. Bawumia’s Eid Message
Regardless of their affiliation with a particular religion, the Ghanaian government is dedicated to ensuring that all Ghanaians have the freedom to practise their religion and coexist in peace and harmony.
Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who is tauted as the most credible and effective politician in Ghana has stated that the Ghanaian government will completely support the newly outdoored and enskinned Prince of the Gonja Kingdom in his efforts to build the kingdom. He gave Bii-Kunuto Jawu Soale, the new Yagbonwura, the assurance that the government will support his development plans.
On March 21, 2023, at the outdooring of the newly skinned Overload of the Gonja Kingdom at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo, the Vice President made the promise. He was speaking at the time.
VP Bawumia
He emphasised the necessity for peace and togetherness as a prerequisite for the struggle against poverty and the pursuit of progress. “I want to assure him that the Government will give him the utmost cooperation in fulfilling that vision for the development of the Yagbon State…We should always remember that our enemy is poverty, and we should make sure that we come together to have development, the development we cannot have without peace. And therefore, we need to hold peace as a very high-level objective and work towards getting peace among ourselves,” he said.
The Vice President continued by saying that the establishment of the Savannah Area, which is mostly populated by the Gonja people, has resulted in noticeable progress in the region, which is clear evidence of the government’s dedication to improving the area.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, vice president, has promised the Twasam family a respectable funeral for their late son, Christian Atsu.
Dr. Bawumia leads government delegation to receive the remains of Christian Atsu
Two weeks ago, an earthquake in Turkey claimed the life of Atsu, a winger for the national team. His body was found on February 18th.
The arrangements were made for a Turkish Airlines flight to take his body to Ghana as part of plans to bury him in his own country.
Speaking at a homecoming ceremony for the late Atsu at Kotoka International Airport, the vice president disclosed plans to work with the family to arrange for Atsu to be buried properly. Dr. Bawumia stated that Atsu deserves to be honored because of his humanitarian work. “He played for the Black Stars and he was much loved so we will sorely miss him. This loss is a very painful one and this is a sad day for Ghana. We all prayed and prayed, we hoped against hope for everyday that passed, but God knows best,” he said. He referred to the Turkish occurrence as a tragedy that had stolen happiness from Atsu’s beneficiaries and the entire Ghanaian population.
On behalf of President Nana Akufo-Addo, he expressed condolences to the Twasam family.
The funeral procession for Christian Atsu has left the airport in anticipation of the customary family customs.
Rex Asanga, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate in the Upper East, claims that his opponent has resorted to lying in a last-ditch effort to retain the Bolgatanga Central seat.
He contends that the candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lacks experience and is thus forced to use fabrications to damage the well-earned reputation he has built up in the constituency over the years. He said that someone of Isaac Adongo’s caliber should refrain from lying in order to garner votes since Bolgatanga Central voters are intelligent and won’t fall for his outright lies this election. Rex Asanga stated that Adongo is on record “according to the Station the Hon MP while addressing NDC supporters at an event stated that I have been going around and telling people that he, Isaac Adongo was in collusion with Hon Kofi Adda, the Minister for Aviation and MP for Navrongo Central and His Excellency President Akufo Addo to relocate the Bolgatanga airport project to Navro.” This is not merely a fabrication but a diabolical strategy aimed at causing bad blood between myself and the Hon Minister and His Excellency the President”. He is surprised by Isaac Adongo’s assertion that he sponsored a brain operation in India for one of Rex Asanga’s children who was close to passing away.
“Another wicked lie the Hon member of parliament told in the write up is that he had paid the medical bills for one of my sons for a brain surgery in India. This is a very wicked lie and i urge all to disregarded it with all the contempt it deserves. Since their birth, never at any stage of their lives have my sons or daughter needed a surgery, let alone being flown abroad under the imagined benevolence of Jon Isaac Adongo for a brain surgery. Not even an extended family or member of my clan has had any such medical condition or any financial assistance from Hon Adongo.Just a few years ago, the Hon MP’s name was in the newspapers for non payment of loans owed the then struggling GN Bank. This contributed to the eventual collapse and liquidation of the bank. Isn’t it curious then that he suddenly has the financial wherewithal to sponsor people to India for imagined brain surgery.” He took advantage of the opportunity to urge residents of the Bolgatanga Municipality to vote out Isaac Adongo and change the face of politics in the Constituency. “I have a track record to campaign on and do not need to rely on falsehood, lies and fabrications to help me make my case to the good people of Bolgatanga. I call on all and sundry to let us unite to change the face of our politics by showing this MP the exit. Bolgatanga Central deserves better.”
READ FULL STATEMENT HERE Lies are a Sign of Desperation My attention was drawn to some very disturbing and astonishing claims made by Hon Isaac Adongo, the MP for Bolgatanga Central Constituency on his official Facebook page on the 8th of October. My first response was that such a claim couldn’t be made by Mr. Adongo, arguing that the Hon MP wouldn’t peddle such palpable falsehoods about me or my family knowing very well that those lies will be exposed sooner or later.
However, as prove, the informant screenshot the statement and sent it to me as confirmation. He (Adongo) has since pulled down the post for reasons best known to him. However, given the fact that many people have already read the story before it was pulled down, I deem it appropriate to make a response so that people will know that they are total fabrications and an effigy of his own imagination. I am therefore writing this piece to let all and sundry know that Hon Adongo peddled lies and falsehood in that write up. His aim in peddling those lies must be obvious to all. It us intended to tarnish my image and make me appear a bad person in the eyes of the public all in the hope that he could salvage his own sinking image. The only truth in that worthless piece of write-up is that i am a staunch Catholic. Let me add that, not only am i a Catholic, but an active one who plays various roles in the church including marriage counselling, Communiun Minister and a teacher. In view of my Christian faith, I am married to one wife and not many women as Mr Adongo has sought to portray. Despite this being public knowledge Hon Isaac Adongo chooses the path of deliberate mischief thinking he can bring my Christian character into question and disrepute for his selfish political ends.
Another wicked lie the Hon member of parliament told in the write up is that he had paid the medical bills for one of my sons for a brain surgery in India. This is a very wicked lie and i urge all to disregarded it with all the contempt it deserves. Since their birth, never at any stage of their lives have my sons or daughter needed a surgery, let alone being flown abroad under the imagined benevolence of Jon Isaac Adongo for a brain surgery. Not even an extended family or member of my clan has had any such medical condition or any financial assistance from Hon Adongo.Just a few years ago, the Hon MP’s name was in the newspapers for non payment of loans owed the then struggling GN Bank. This contributed to the eventual collapse and liquidation of the bank. Isn’t it curious then that he suddenly has the financial wherewithal to sponsor people to India for imagined brain surgery. While I was figuring out how to respond to these lies, i was hit with yet another lie by the Hon Adongo.
A Bolgatanga based FM radio station, A1, called me and ask me for my response to another pack of lies peddled by the Hon MP against me. According to the Station the Hon MP while addressing NDC supporters at an event stated that I have been going around and telling people that he, Isaac Adongo was in collusion with Hon Kofi Adda, the Minister for Aviation and MP for Navrongo Central and His Excellency President Akufo Addo to relocate the Bolgatanga airport project to Navrongo. This is not only a lie but a wicked scheme aimed at creating bad blood between myself and the Hon Minister and His Excellency the President. It is very clear that the desperation of Hon Isaac Adongo is getting to fever pitch. In his frustration, he is clawing at everything possible in an effort to cause disaffection for me, for his own narrow and temporal political ends. But I can assure him that he has already failed. I urge the public to disregard the MP’s unguarded comments as they are just a figment of his own imagination and a spillover of his desperation.
I remain an honest and focused Politician who will not trade my integrity on the altar of lies. Winning the Bolgatanga Central seat in the upcoming elections is my focus and I will not be distracted from it with such infantile lies. Hon Isaac Adongo’s sudden love for lies are only a sign of the extent of his desperation, haven realised that the people of Bolgatanga Central have resolved to show him the exit in the December polls, for none performance and his lack of concern for matters affecting the Constituency and their very lives. All who know me can testify that all my life I have worked to transform the lives of people within the Constituency and the UER in general.
I have a track record to campaign on and do not need to rely on falsehood, lies and fabrications to help me make my case to the good people of Bolgatanga. I call on all and sundry to let us unite to change the face of our politics by showing this MP the exit. Bolgatanga Central deserves better.
The National Democratic Congress’s (NDC’s) National Youth Organiser states he has pardoned Sammy Gyamfi, the party’s National Communications Officer, for running an attack ad against him. George Opare Addo said this is because his [Sammy’s] actions were borne out of “immaturity and inexperience” When Mr. Addo spoke on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem programme on Tuesday for the first time following the hotly contested elections, he made the remark. In a heated election for the job of National Youth Organiser held in Cape Coast in the Central Region, Mr. Gyamfi openly backed his rival, Brogya Genfi.
He said that the youth wing has been misled for the past four years as justification for why Mr. Addo, often known as Pablo, should not be kept. However, following the voting, delegates overwhelmingly supported Pablo, who received 533 votes, while Brogya received 508 votes out of the total ballots cast. Despite his opponents’ allegations of cheating, Pablo claims they are simply bitter losers because he was elected in a free and fair election. He referred to Mr Gyamfi as a “influence peddling” who campaigned against him using the names of former President John Mahama and former Chief of Staff Julius Debrah.
Pablo and Sammy Gyamfi
“Sammy Gyamfi is just an officer of the party and he is part of the influence peddlers. They are those who are using the former President’s name wrongly and they should be called to order,” he fumed. The NDC youth leader claimed that the premeditated lies told against him in the run-up to the elections made his heart bleed. Despite this, Mr. Addo stated that he was not shocked by the National Communications Officer’s stance.
“I have no issue with who anybody chooses to support but there are videos of Sammy Gyamfi using Julius Debrah’s name to campaign against me,” the NDC National Youth Organiser stated. “Sammy Gyamfi is young; it is youthful exuberance, immaturity and inexperience. A time will come he will grow out of it,” he added. According to Pablo, NDC delegates were quite astute, able to read between the lines, and made the right decision.
The assertions of National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that he was not aware of GETFund scholarship transactions while serving as Deputy Minister of Education have been disputed.
DAILY GUIDE has learned that as a minister in the NDC government, Mr. Ablakwa was extensively involved in GETFund scholarship agreements. A memorandum of agreement (MoU) has been signed by Mr. Ablakwa on behalf of GETFund and Lovely Professional University (LPU) of India.
The contentious Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed on March 16, 2016, was primarily created to benefit Ghanaian institutions and help acquire scholarship agreements for Ghanaian students to study in India.
It went on to explain that GETFund was Ghana’s top educational authority and that it oversaw the development of all institutions that were part of the country’s higher education system. It stated that the GETFund and the LPU had both realised they shared a wide range of interests and that working together would be advantageous to both parties. “GETFund, Ghana has tied up with LPU to provide access to quality education to the students of Ghana,” the MoU, which had Dr. Monica Gulati, the Registrar of LPU, also as a signatory, indicated. “GETFund intends to further work with LPU, which has already made a significant contribution in the area of higher education in India to guide and mentor universities/colleges and such other organisations,” the MoU added. The publication of the paper coincides with Mr. Ablakwa’s public denial that he was aware of GETFund scholarship activities while serving as deputy minister of education.
Since it became known that some MPs and government representatives from the NDC and the NPP had benefited from GETFund scholarships, there have been ferocious discussions in the media.
Even in the GETFund paperwork, there is a name Mercy Ablakwa, thought to be a relative of Mr. Ablakwa, showing that she received a scholarship from GETFund in 2010. According to a letter of award allegedly signed by Sam Garba, the GETFund administrator, the aforementioned Mercy Ablakwa received a total of $33,400 on August 12, 2010, to pursue a BSc in Nursing at the University of Charleston in the United States.
$16,032 went toward academic scholarships, and $17,366 went toward living expenses and travel.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President, has launched a multi-country development project in Bolgatanga called the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project.
The SOCO Project is a $450 million multi-country credit facility project secured by the governments of Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin from the World Bank, and it aims to improve facilities and security in the four West African countries’ northern sectors and border towns in the face of emerging extremism in the sub-region. Launching the project in Bolgatanga on Friday, November 25, 2022, Vice President Bawumia revealed that out of the total amount of $450m, the Government of Ghana has secured US $150 million to implement the project in 48 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) in six regions of the country. The beneficiary MMDAs are; Northern – 8 district assemblies North East – 6 district assemblies Upper East – 15 district assemblies Upper West –11 district assemblies Savannah – 4 district assemblies Oti – 4 district assemblies
Dr. Bawumia described the project as “a very important and timely intervention aimed at addressing some key emerging and recurring challenges in the northern part of Ghana.” “The Project has been conceived and designed to address the effects of the spillover of conflicts and extremism from the Sahel Region; reduce vulnerability because of exposure to the impacts of climate change; strengthen local institutions; improve economic opportunities and build public trust,” he added.
For the Ghana project, the Vice President further explained that the project will focus mostly on border communities in these regions, where the citizenry especially women and youth are exposed and susceptible to the threats of terrorism from the Sahel Region. “This is very significant as countries all over the world are pursuing strategies to address these challenges in view of the anticipated worsening of the situation if the necessary interventions are not promptly instituted,” said the Vice President.
“The project as conceptualised, takes cognisance of regional perspectives and impact of the issues that are common to the four countries, whilst enabling country led actions that respond to local needs. It also leverages experience sharing on prevention of the spillover effects from the Sahel, fragilities, climate-related risks in the four participating Gulf of Guinea countries, as well as, conflict prevention by the affected countries,” he added.
The project will also prioritise the needs of communities and strengthen local institutions to give the citizenry, especially the vulnerable, a voice to take part, influence and play a vital role in prioritising local development investments, as well as, promote social cohesion and build trust in their communities.
For almost a decade, the living conditions of over 16 million people living in the northern parts of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo have been threatened by the spread of conflict from the Sahel, which has led to increased vulnerability to the impact of climate change.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, a former Deputy Minister of Information under the NDC, shot himself in the foot on Twitter when he attempted a daring reaction to Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s comparative analysis of the NPP and the NDC’s record on currency rate management. Speaking earlier today at the Government’s Town Hall Meeting in Kumasi, Dr. Bawumia presented Bank of Ghana data from 1992, indicating that the current government’s average annual Cedi depreciating record of 8.7% was the best management of the Cedi by any government in its first term under the 4th Republic.
Dr. Bawumia compared the present government’s “best record” of 8.7 percent from 2017 to 2020 to the previous NDC’s annual cumulative depreciation of 18 percent from 2016 to 2019. Felix Kwakye Ofosu was ridiculed on social media for accusing Dr. Bawumia of lying in an attempt to respond to him. “The Ghana Cedi depreciated by 13.7% in 2019. How can Bawumia say they have performed better? Perhaps he believes our media won’t fact check him,” Kwakye Ofosu wrote, in obvious misunderstanding of the subject.
Following his tweet, other Twitter users, most likely supporters of the ruling government, pounced on Kwakye Ofosu. “Bawumja said average depreciation for 3 years ooo…..just sum the yearly depreciation and divide by 3….that’s the average. Argue with facts,” A twitter user by name Stephen Anim replied Felix Kwakye Ofosu. “I guess you didn’t hear average. How do we calculate average. Ahwala Ankasa, gyama eny3 serious,” a twitter user Stephen Anim told Felix Kwakye Ofosu. Eghan Osei also replied Kwakye Ofosu “Ur head die paa oo…..he said average depreciation for 3 years. Check the yearly depreciation rate and divide by 3 wai…..come again.”
“Wo ne b)n de3…..keep quiet and listen to him well. Quote what he said properly,” another twitter user with the handle @GordonGyamera told Kwakye Ofosu.
“Stop this. If you are listening, then listen to the Vice President well,” another Jojo Stephen told the former Minister.
“He said average depreciation Mr Felix. Over a 4 year period,” another said to Kwakye Ofosu. Ur head die paa oo.. he said average depreciation for 3years.check de yearly depreciation rate and divide by 3 wai..come again — Urgirlfriendscrush (@EghanOsei) February 11, 2020
He then faded out from his replies to Dr. Bawumia’s presentation.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president, has demonstrated that he is not only honest but also modest after being observed on a commercial flight from Accra to Tamale. On November 26, 2022, the Vice President boarded an Embraer 145 aircraft operated by Africa World Airlines for the Accra-Tamale route. Manasseh Azure Awuni, a distinguished Ghanaian journalist, saw the vice president on the plane and documented their accidental encounter online, praising the vice president for his kind act.
Vice President, Bawumia hailed
“This morning, those of us on board Africa World’s Embraer 145 commercial flight to Tamale were joined by an unexpected passenger,” Manasseh said in a post that included a picture of Bawumia sitting alone on a double-seat with his security assistant behind him. This is the first time I have heard or seen Ghana’s president or vice president on a local commercial flight, I don’t know how frequently it occurs,” the message continued. Public leaders frequently travel in enormous convoys of V8 cars in Ghana, and it is extremely unusual for them to fly on unremarkable civilian aircraft, as Bawumia just did.
Due to the intense online discussion that followed Manasseh’s tweet, many people praised the Vice President for taking the initiative to save the country money. One person commented on social media, “Keep this up Dr. B.” Others, however, disagreed, arguing that there was nothing unusual about his actions given that public leaders frequently travel in this way in other nations around the world.
In either case, it is astonishing that a Ghanaian public official would make such a decision, especially given the country’s current economic situation. It is not surprising that the modest Dr. Bawumia took this action, and one can only hope that it sets a precedent for most other public officials to follow. Vice President Bawumia stands out from many other Ghanaian politicians because of his humility, which is one of the reasons why many people think he will make the finest leader for the NPP after Nana.
Martin A.B.K. Amidu, a former minister for justice and attorney general, claims that Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the deputy minister of information, has been spreading “lies” to the public for too long. In addition, the former AG criticised Ablakwa harshly for what he claimed were the deputy information minister’s efforts to weaken the authority of substantive information ministers he had served under, particularly the outgoing minister, John Tia Akologo.
Speaking on the Accra-based radio station Oman FM, Mr. Amidu claimed that the NDC and the ruling party’s electoral prospects were both being negatively impacted by Mr. Ablakwa’s actions. Mr. Amidu claims that the Deputy Information Minister called him to plead for the payment of the $1.3 million that Isofoton SA claimed was owed to them. The request was denied, according to the former AG, because a court case was ongoing at the time. Even though the deputy information minister, who also spoke to Oman FM, acknowledged calling Mr. Amidu, he refuted some of the former attorney general’s claims that he begged him to approve payment to Isofoton.
However, the anti-corruption activist argued that it was improper for the Deputy Information Minister to have called him regarding the situation without first consulting his (Ablakwa’s) superior, John Tia Akologo, the Minister of Information at the time. “Mr. Okudzeto is a young man, and he should take upon himself responsibilities befitting a deputy Minister and not to be usurping positions of substantive Ministers…when John Tia was there, he rendered him virtually useless,” Mr Amidu said. It was wrong for Mr. Ablakwa to keep this information from me while he was working at the Information Ministry, but it would be inaccurate to say that he reduced my standing. I had very good relationships with Okudzeto and Agyenim Boateng, the former minister of information told Citi Fm. “They respected me, they came to my office each time I called them and even on their own they’d come and say that Minister, we think A, B C and so on.
Okudzeto Ablakwa
“We had very good relationship so I wouldn’t have known that there were acts that were taking place.” “I never saw any issue of any judgment debt on my table. They are obliged after I have delegated powers to them to brief or apprise me. If they act or do something on my behalf or should any deputy act on behalf of their ministers, they should be able to apprise the Minister because he as the Minister takes the ultimate responsibility for anything.” Ablakwa asserted that he only got involved after the Isofoton people presented a petition to the Minister John Tia, who wasn’t there. Instead of telling his boss, he kept it a secret and called Mr. Amidu to persuade him to approve the payment of money to the Spanish company.
