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Politics

THE HIPC TRIUMPH; DR BAWUMIA’S ROLE

The President Kufuor administration decided to seek financial relief through the HIPC initiative in the early days of his administration due to the distressed nature of the economy and the massive debts inherited from the previous government. It drew fierce opposition across the country, including from members of his government and party, to name a few. Even though the Britton Wood institutions supported the decision to sign onto the HIPC programme.

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) established the Debt Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) in 1996. It built a system for all creditors, including multilateral creditors, to offer debt relief to the world’s poorest and most financially strapped countries, thereby mitigating the constraints that debt accumulation imposed on economic growth and poverty reduction in these countries. The HIPC Initiative was created as a critical component of a larger development architecture that includes policies, programmes, and institutional development to support long-term growth and poverty reduction.

Despite the uproar that this singular decision had caused in the country, with one accord like ants marching to find food for the future, the Kufuor-led government needed to proceed to the IMF and World Bank as a necessary measure because the government could not do much in reducing poverty and stabilising the economy with the skyrocketing debt that had been inherited.

The stage was set, and all eyes were on who would lead the negotiations. To negotiate this historic HIPIC initiative, which was then new to the country, the government needed to assemble a competent team to navigate through these unchartered waters.

Fortunately, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia had returned from his overseas stewardship as an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University in Texas (1996-2000) to serve his nation as an Economist at the Bank of Ghana.

In 2001, Dr Bawumia was chosen as the Team Lead for the Bank of Ghana’s technical negotiation team, as well as a member of the government team that negotiated with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund under the HIPC and PRGF initiatives.

As one of the team leaders, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was instrumental in negotiating the HIPC proposals. The HIPC initiative gave significant debt relief to President Kufuor’s inherited economy, as well as major rural infrastructure development through the supply of educational and health facilities, among other things.

Dr Bawumia’s vision and love for his country would not allow him to give up until the goal was met. In doing so, he served on the government’s technical negotiating team for the HIPC Paris Club and Completion Point Negotiations. Ghana completed the HIPC process, resulting in significant debt relief totaling nearly $4 billion.

Dr Bawumia’s zeal and competence during that period are worth emulating as Ghana continues to benefit from his ideas. It was unsurprising that Mr Osarfo Marfo, Hon Baah Wiredu of blessed memory, and Governor Paul Acquah, with whom he collaborated on several projects, including the HIPC initiative with President Kufuor’s blessing, strongly recommended him to Nana Akufo Addo to be his running mate in the 2008 general elections.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has contributed to the success of all NPP governments, which is commendable.

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Dr Yaw Ampofo-Twum

Snr Fellow
Centre for Planning and Economic Research

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Bawumia attends Ruto’s oath-taking ceremony

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president, is in Nairobi, Kenya to represent Ghana at the oath-taking ceremony for William Samoei Arap Ruto, the incoming president of Kenya.


William Ruto will be sworn in on September 13, 2022, at Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani in Nairobi
William Ruto won the election for president after polling 50.5% against Raila Odinga’s 48.8%.
He will be the country’s fifth president when sworn in on Tuesday.
Vice President Bawumia will be accompanied by the 2nd Lady, Samira Bawumia, Thomas Mbomba, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, and other Senior government officials.



He is anticipated to return to Accra on September 14th.
Over 20 heads of state and 2,500 VIPs have confirmed their attendance at William Ruto, president-electswearing-in ,’s ceremony, according to Kenyan officials.

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Politics

WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE DR. MAHAMUDU BAWUMIA?

By: Chief Obosu Mohammed, DPA LL. B LL.M ACIArb
[email protected]

02/02/2022

The NPP is faced with a fateful choice. As a result, there is a better road that inspires us to break the 8 and another one that takes us to an unhappy exit from the government. To clinch the ultimate, we need a new leader with a clear and less burdensome strategy. The history of our party is dependent on the right individual turning up at the right moment. DMB exudes the aura of a “person of destiny.” We require a leader who fits within our current political dynamics and can lead the party to victory in multiple general elections in the future. That being said, I would want to highlight a few reasons why I believe DMB is an excellent choice for the important tasks ahead.

Justification of Inclusion

Our party’s success narrative cannot be written without the name DMB emblazoned in gold. He has shown a stronger degree of dedication to the party since H.E Nana Akufo Addo and the party deemed him worthy to partner with him. He has devoted himself entirely to the party’s service for more than a decade. DMB, like President Akufo Addo, put his highly respected career on wait to guarantee that we return to power and put our country on a road of growth.

After our loss in 2012, the party was at a crossroads, with many of our party folks devastated by the outcome. He stepped up to be counted in those difficult moments, leading the team through the analysis of over 30,000 pink sheets, our primary evidence, and offering himself as the party’s star witness to strengthen our case. The outcome of the legal ruling, as well as the fundamental modifications to our election rules and processes, played a role in our subsequent electoral triumphs. Despite this, he chaired a team that proposed significant election reforms. DMB’s light has impacted our two electoral triumphs, which cannot be diminished by the onslaught of personal assaults on him.

Hands-on Experience

DMB is a plausible candidate who is serving as Vice-President for the second time because of his hard work. He has, without a doubt, transformed from a President-in-Training to a President-in-Waiting. With the greatest of respect, aside from President Akufo Addo and President J. A Kufuor, there is no one in the NPP right now who has greater experience and understands the subtleties of the position of a President than DMB. We cannot afford the sloppiness of trial and error, especially with a vital election against the NDC in 2024. DMB has what it takes to continue President Akufo Addo’s and the NPP’s legacy. He can reach across the aisle and gain non-NPP votes by instinct and considerable experience.

Excellent Communicator

DMB has firmly established himself as one of our most effective communicators. He can simplify complex issues and articulate them in a way that captivates his audience. He is the ideal person to articulate the Akufo Addo administration’s successes and to bring the debate to the NDC. He is the NDC’s Achilles heel and a major impediment to its growth.

DMB has served as the party’s “fall guy” in both opposition and governing. His adversaries have continued to try in vain to undermine him by removing bits of his campaign speeches that are being utilized out of context and the nature of the circumstances under which they were delivered. The positivity that lies behind those propaganda videos underscores DMB’s enormous accomplishments in employing his extraordinary communication abilities in advocating for our electoral victories. Even in government, he continues to display the same communication abilities and exceptional expertise.

Champion of the grassroots

DMB has a natural affinity towards the grassroots. He has developed a unique relationship with the party’s grassroots operatives around the country over the years. He welcomes everyone without any intimidating looks and shares his time with everyone, being attentive to their concerns and following through on their expectations. He can mobilise the confidence of the grassroots to wage a vigorous campaign capable of breaking the 8.

Conclusion

We’re at a crossroads, and we need to think outside the box to offer both a strategic candidate and one who has previously been marketed. DMB is who he is, and he is not posing. He has worked relentlessly with President Akufo Addo to secure two major victories for our party. DMB stands tall in aiding us in our winning ways. The DMB project is viable, and everyone should endeavour to be a part of making history.

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Bawumia stands tall- Obiri Boahen

An argument that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has betrayed Ghanaians because the majority of the promises he made to them have not been fulfilled has been disputed by the former deputy general secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Nana Obiri Boahen asserts that the vice president has succeeded because he assisted in the implementation of important government initiatives like the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) and the digitalization of Ghana’s economy.


The Former Deputy General Secretary stated in a Neat FM interview that Bawumia is the brains behind the deployment of the National Identification System, which is a huge breakthrough for the country.
“Once again, let me raise this issue, the Free Senior High School that we are implementing is a milestone in the history of this country and a milestone in the history of this continent.

“The implementation of the National Identification System (GhanaCard) by the Nana Akufo-Addo government, which successive governments have failed to do, is a major breakthrough. If you look at the Auditor General’s report it indicated that most of the infractions were found because their systems have been digitalized.

“Countries like Singapore and Malaysia are now trying to digitalize but we have already crossed that bridge. And to say that Bawumia has failed I beg to differ. If you carefully look at the things this government has achieved you cannot say that they have failed,” he said.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia stands tall among some names circulating for the flagbearership race which is scheduled for 2023.

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IS OKUDZETO THE BIGGEST LIAR IN GHANA?

The assertions made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a member of parliament for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), that he was unaware of GETFund scholarship agreements while serving as deputy minister of education have been refuted.
According to information obtained by DAILY GUIDE, Mr. Ablakwa participated actively in GETFund scholarship negotiations while serving as a minister in the NDC government.


According to some reports, the NDC MP had enough clout to ‘by-pass’ GETFund employees and ‘personally’ negotiate scholarship agreements with overseas colleges on GETFund’s behalf.
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, signed on March 16, 2016, was primarily designed to help negotiate scholarship offers for Ghanaian students to study in India, as well as to give support for Ghanaian schools.


It went on to say that the GETFund was the top body of education in Ghana, in charge of regulating, expanding, and developing institutions in Ghana’s higher education system.
It stated that both GETFund and the LPU recognized that they shared many interests and that their collaboration would benefit 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 report was released at a time when Mr. Ablakwa publicly denied knowing about GETFund scholarship programs while serving as deputy minister of education.
There have been heated debates in the media recently when it was revealed that some MPs and government officials from both the NDC and the NPP received GETFund scholarships.
Even in the GETFund paperwork, there is a name Mercy Ablakwa, thought to be Mr. Ablakwa’s relative, suggesting that she also received a GETFund scholarship in 2010.


According to an award letter reportedly signed by the GETFund administrator, Sam Garba, Mercy Ablakwa was awarded a total of $33,400 on August 12, 2010 to pursue a BSc Nursing at the University of Charleston in the United States.
The academic scholarship was worth $16,032, while the living allowance and passage cost $17,366.

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ECONOMIC CHALLENGES NOT AKUFO-ADDO’S DOING- IMF BOSS

Kristalina Georgiva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, has denied claims that Ghana’s economic troubles were self-inflicted rather than caused by the Russian/Ukraine war and Covid-19.
According to her, the country’s economic problems are not the result of terrible government policy.


She reaffirmed her organization’s commitment to striking an economic accord with the government before the end of the year.
Madam Georgiva told Joy News’ Benjamin Akakpo during the Africa Adaptation Summit in Rotterdam, Holland, that Ghana will receive IMF assistance.
“I’m very determined for us to indeed reach an agreement with Ghana by the end of this year [2022]. We started very constructive discussions already. And to the people of Ghana, like everybody on this planet you have been hurt by exogenous shocks; first the pandemic, then Russian/Ukraine war”.


“And that we need to realise that it’s not because of bad policies in the country, but because of these combinations of shocks. Therefore, we have to support Ghana because you are a member, you are a strong country, and you have fantastic people”.
She emphasized how smoothly the conversations between Ghana and the Fund had been going.


“We have to support Ghana because your strength contributes to the strength of your neighbors, it contributes to a stronger world”.
Upon being asked if Ghana would receive the $3 billion that the government has requested, Madam Georgiva responded, “Let’s go to the negotiations, and then you will know.”

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Embrace digitalization to boost justice delivery – Bawumia


The 19th Triennial Conference of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association (CMJA) was launched in Accra on Monday, September 5, by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

In its five-decade history, the CMJA Conference, which brings together Chief Justices, Judges, Magistrates, and judicial officers from Commonwealth Nations, has aided in promoting judicial independence and enhancing legal administration in member nations, the Vice President added.


He urged the CMJA to embrace the power of digital technologies and innovations to increase access to justice and improve judicial systems in the modern world, where they are facilitating life and making things easier.

After kicking off the event, Dr. said on Facebook, “I also shared with them, the tale of how Ghana has already started digitizing its judicial process, and reinforced our Government’s commitment to it, to enable easy and convenient access to justice in our nation.”

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Politics

DR. BAWUMIA SHINES MAGNIFICENTLY IN GHANIAN POLITICS

OPINION: Saanu Abacha writes;


The 2012 election petition was the birth of Vice President Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia as a force in Ghanaian politics as he shined magnificently as the NPP’s star witness in their case against election irregularities.

Though the NPP lost, his performance served as a fertile ground for the advancement of his standing with the Ghanaian public as Dr. Bawumia displayed his eloquence, intelligence, analytical mind and skills, and complete mastery of debate in the full glare of Ghanaians on national television.

The trial displayed once and for all the potential of Dr. Bawumia as a future leader of Ghana and led to then-candidate Akufo-Addo expressing immense appreciation to him after the trial.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo formed a unique bond on the back of that trial as the running mate completely proved his utility and versatility as an asset to the New Patriotic Party.

Akufo-Addo and Bawumia will eventually win the 2016 elections, once again on the back of a spectacular performance from Dr. Bawumia as he diagnosed the problems with the Ghanaian economy and completely hammered then President Mahama in their public spats, forever gifting him the label of ‘incompetent’.

All this has left many believing strongly that Bawumia is President Akufo-Addo’s natural successor as leader of the NPP.

The incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by President John Dramani Mahama and running mate Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, took on the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Mahama had taken over as President for the late Professor John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills after his untimely death on July 24th, 2012, and was seeking an extension of his rule after only five months in office.

After a long and acrimonious campaign followed by a somewhat chaotic voting process, then Electoral Commission boss Afari Gyan declared the NDC’s John Mahama as the winner with 50.7% of the vote despite numerous complaints and pointing out of irregularities by the NPP.

The NPP headed to court to fight the verdict and the legend of Dr. Bawumia was born.

Prior to the petition, Dr. Bawumia, set to be the NPP’s star witness, was involved in a ghastly accident on the 18th of March 2012 that nearly claimed his life.

The V8 Land Cruiser he was travelling in whilst returning to Accra from the enskinment of the Bole-Wura suffered two burst tyres and somersaulted.

Miraculously, Dr. Bawumia and the other occupants of the car all escaped unhurt.

The NPP running mate shook off the near-death incident and testified in the trial for days on end as he forcefully made the NPP’s case.

Dr. Bawumia went toe-to-toe with Tsatsu Tsikata, one of Ghana’s eminent lawyers and legal scholars, and by all accounts absolutely acquitted himself well.

Bawumia adeptly and adroitly skipped over all legal traps Tsikata attempted to set in his way and was brilliant in pointing out irregularities the NPP’s audit of the election had uncovered.

The infamous saying, ‘you and I were not there’, was borne out of the legal and intellectual battles between Bawumia and Tsikata in that trial.

Eventually, the NPP lost the petition but it was certainly not due to the lack of presenting a brilliant case.

Bawumia became a political force during that trial and on the back of that, helped Nana Akufo-Addo handily sweep to power by defeating John Mahama in their rematch in 2016.

The 2012 election petition displayed everything that made Bawumia a success as an economist and a politician – intelligence, eloquence, and an uncanny ability to remain cool under pressure.

Columnist: Saanu Abacha

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NEWS Politics

NPP WILL BREAK THE EIGHT- CHAIRMAN COKA

Chairman COKA calls for early NPP congress
The former chairman of the Kwabre South constituency, Mr. Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, has pushed for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to call an early congress to choose the party’s flagbearer for the 2024 general elections.
This, in his opinion, would greatly aid the party in addressing all issues that would arise from the competition.
He has therefore urged the newly elected National Executives of the Party to submit a paper to the NEC asking it to consider an early congress rather than the one year to the elections that the Party’s constitution calls for when it is in power.

The call was made by Chairman COKA, as he is known in the political sphere, on Friday 26th August during an exclusive interview with Nhyira 104.5 FM, a local radio station in Kumasi.
The former head of the Association of NPP constituency chairmen and a candidate for NPP chairman of the Ashanti region in the 2022 conference, COKA, predicted that the party would break the eight.
I’m telling you that efforts are being made to break the 8 in any way necessary.
He claims that the NPP has already begun working on all of the identified challenges.

He informed the show’s host that ” We will be discussing our third term victory when you see me here in the following two years. We are making every effort to avoid the apathy that negatively impacted us (NPP) in 2008, he emphasized.
COKA asks Ghanaians to be patient with the government in light of the current economic crisis.
He assured Ghanaians that Nana Addo’s administration is working tirelessly to bring the country to the Promised Land.
“We will undoubtedly arrive in the Promised Land before 2024.”
Let us all be patient with the government and contribute our fair share to the economic recovery agenda.”

Concerning the cedi depreciation, Chairman COKA once again urged all Ghanaians, particularly traders, to refrain from purchasing dollars locally in order to relieve pressure on the dollar.

“We all have a role to play in terms of cedi depreciation,” he said. To relieve pressure on the dollar, our businessmen and women must refrain from trading or purchasing dollars in their transactions.
He bemoaned the fact that some individuals purposefully stir up panic about the dollar rate in the economy, and that this must be stopped.

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NHIS NOW COVERS CHILDHOOD CANCERS-BAWUMIA

Bawumia announced this on Thursday (25 August 2022) in Accra, saying that reimbursement for childhood cancers under the NHIS became effective on July 1, 2022.
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) now covers treatments for childhood cancers as well as the cost of Hydroxyurea, an essential drug for the treatment of sickle cell anaemia, according to Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia.
Bawumia announced this on Thursday (25 August 2022) in Accra, saying reimbursement for childhood cancers under NHIS became effective 1 July 2022, and plans to add treatment for other types of cancer to the list of ailments covered by NHIS are well underway.
“Our children’s present and future can only be secured if all the factors that threaten their existence and quality of life are eliminated. We are determined to make it happen and we should not relent,” he stated.

“A diagnosis of cancer often appears to be a death sentence, affecting not just the subject but the rest of the family and entire community, unless well-structured and well-resourced interventions are at play to curb the burden. In many developing countries, cancer is on the rise and its consequent effect on economies, is and will be grave, if nothing is done to control it,” he said.

He further said, “Where countries have attempted to curb it, the perception of acutely exorbitant costs of management have meant that many under-resourced countries have often avoided opening the Pandora’s Box for fear of being unable to manage those costs. Childhood cancers in particular have shown significant success rates in achieving desired management outcomes and often at manageable costs.
“I am glad that we, as a nation, are putting our children first and protecting them and their dreams. Sometimes it is good to look at the value of investments and not just the cost.”
To ensure the program’s success and sustainability, Dr. Bawumia urged all parties involved to contribute their resources. She noted that “for most things to be sustained funding is required: good funding streams enable projects to be sustained and this is same in childhood cancers and other disease areas. We must all work together to be creative in coming up with solutions and investing in them, as well as in all other aspects that will guarantee the best results.
“For a health project such as this great childhood cancer services to continue, all stakeholders need to bring their resources to the table – expertise, awareness creation, early detection, treatment etc should be made available. The successful outcomes of provision of these is what will keep things sustained. Seeing that our children are being diagnosed early and treated and recovering will certainly encourage the NHIA and all other partners to continue to fund the services. We all have a role to play.”

Collaboration, data, technology
Dr. Bawumia emphasized the significance of technology, effective collaboration, and data in health management, noting that there are numerous players in healthcare who require data for valuable investments, with health data actually generating income for some countries.
“Clinical trials, research, budgeting, all require data. But data is not valuable if it is just that, and not useful. I will encourage us to prioritize data capture related to childhood cancers and other cancers to ensure that investments in healthcare are well informed. For a middle-income country, every cedi we spend must be well thought through and data will enable us to so.

“Reducing wastage is a key means of enabling that efficiency we desire which will ultimately support the sustainability of this journey we have embarked on… Click to see more

“It will be key for us to have standard platforms across private and public sector that enable easy access and top-quality data that inform work going forward. Extraction of population level data and its analysis will enable favourable investment and development of strategies that are directly impactful to our people.”
Initiatives like One Constituency One Ambulance, Medical Drones for the delivery of vital supplies and blood, and Agenda 111 Projects, which would see to the construction of District Hospitals in all districts lacking one, as well as the construction and or upgrading of regional hospitals, were all motivated by the desire to ensure a greater geographical spread of access to healthcare, especially for people who require specialist care and medication.

“Government is also showing leadership and keen commitment to addressing geographical access limitations through Agenda 111 and we are keen to drive this and make it reality. In these facilities that will be set up, we will be looking at providing all relevant and priority services and will look at how we could also aid improved cancer control including childhood cancers in Ghana,” he said.
Vice President Bawumia thanked First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, the minister and ministry of health, the board chair of NHIA and his team, the CEO of NHIA, World Child Cancer, Roche, and all collaborators for their contributions to the success of this life-saving initiative.
He said, “What we have achieved here is no mean feat and we should not underestimate it.”

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