Tag: Competent Bawumia

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Revolutionizing Financial Inclusion: The Introduction of E-Zwich in Ghana, Driven by Visionary Dr. Bawumia

E-Zwich is a revolutionary payment system that has transformed the way Ghanaians carry out financial transactions. This innovative platform was introduced to Ghana in 2008, and it has since become a crucial component in the country’s financial landscape. The brain behind the introduction of E-Zwich in Ghana is none other than Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, a man of vision.

Dr. Bawumia is an economist and a banker by profession, with vast experience in both fields. He served as the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana from 2006 to 2009, where he championed the adoption of new payment systems to improve financial inclusion in the country. During his tenure, he introduced several innovative initiatives, including the E-zwich payment system, which has had a significant impact on the country’s financial system.

The concept of implementing an electronic payment system in Ghana was not novel, as previous attempts to launch similar programmes had failed. However, these efforts were not effective owing to a lack of infrastructure and the expensive cost of implementation.
Dr. Bawumia recognised the need for a fresh approach to make electronic payments a reality in Ghana.

The introduction of E-Zwich was part of an extensive financial inclusion agenda that aimed to promote access to financial services for all Ghanaians. Before the introduction of E-Zwich, the financial landscape in Ghana was dominated by traditional banking institutions that served only a small percentage of the population. Most Ghanaians, particularly those in rural areas had limited access to financial services, which hindered their ability to participate fully in the country’s economy.

E-Zwich was designed to bridge this gap by providing a reliable and accessible payment system for all Ghanaians. The platform allows users to access their funds using biometric identification, which ensures that only the rightful owner can access their account. This feature has made it easier for Ghanaians to access financial services, particularly those who lack formal identification documents.

The feat of E-Zwich in Ghana has been phenomenal, with over 2.7 million Ghanaians registered on the platform as of 2021. The system has been used to disburse government social intervention funds, as well as the LEAP and NHIS payments, and has also been used to pay salaries for public sector workers, including NSS personnel.

In conclusion, the introduction of E-Zwich in Ghana by a Bawumia led team has had momentous impact on the country’s financial system, a testament to him being one of the competent politician in Ghana. The platform has provided access to financial services for millions of Ghanaians and has transformed the way financial transactions are carried out in the country, also, it has aided in advancing financial inclusion, lowering financial crime rates, and expanding access to financial services. It is a proof to the supremacy of innovation and the significance of financial inclusion in promoting economic growth and development.

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Africa needs data and transparent systems to develop- VP Bawumia

Competent Bawumia
Competent Bawumia

Technology, according to the most competent Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, is still crucial for the African continent to catch up to the developed world.
This call was made in his presentation at the Harvard Law School function he attended over the weekend, on April 15.

“I shared my views on the broader theme of re-imagining Africa’s growth on our terms. I indicated that at the heart of this vision is the transformative power of technology.

Dr. Bawumia at Harvard

“In my view, the greatest bane to the development of Africa is our inability to solve the basic problems of the absence of unique identity for our population, functioning property address systems, financial inclusion, payment systems, efficient public service delivery, etc. that underpin our economic activities,” he wrote on his official Facebook page.
Additionally, Bawumia urged African nations to embrace what he called the potential mindset and resist being constrained.
Read his full post below:
Yesterday, as the guest speaker, I addressed a gathering of students, academics and the business community at Harvard University during the African Development Conference at the Harvard Law School.

I shared my views on the broader theme of reimagining Africa’s growth on our terms. I indicated that at the heart of this vision is the transformative power of technology.

In my view, the greatest bane to the development of Africa is our inability to solve the basic problems of the absence of unique identity for our population, functioning property address systems, financial inclusion, payment systems, efficient public service delivery, etc. that underpin our economic activities.

For many years after independence we have been trying to transform our economies without data and transparent systems. Without data and systems African countries cannot participate in the fourth Industrial Revolution.

The truth is that we have for long been shackled by an impossibility mindset that is probably the result of the experience of years of slavery and colonialism. We don’t believe in ourselves.
However, for us to realize our full potential and set ourselves apart we need to break the shackles of impossibility mindset and embrace the mindset of possibility. African countries can do what the advanced countries have done and more. It is possible.

Read more…

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Ghanaians are clamoring for Dr. Bawumia because he is competent – Omari Wadie

competent bawumia
competent bawumia

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Michael Omari Wadie, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is the choice of the party.

He said the support the Vice President has within the NPP extends to the majority of Ghanaians.

Speaking on Accra FM, he said the 2024 elections will be between the competent one which is Dr. Bawumia and the incompetent one which is John Mahama.

“It is going to be a contest between the Vice President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, who is ‘The Competent One’ and former President John Dramani Mahama, who is also ‘The Incompetent One’,” he explained.

He said Dr Bawumia is NPP’s surest bet for victory as the majority of the party’s support base is clamouring for his appearance on the ballot paper as the flagbearer.

“I have been to all 270 constituencies across [the country] and the chorus is: ‘Let Dr Bawumia come and we will come out in our numbers to vote for him and the party to break the eight-year political jinx’,” he said.

In his view, while Dr Bawumia is incorruptible, the same cannot be said of Mr Mahama.

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joe Osei-Owusu said majority of the members in parliament support Dr. Bawumia.

Speaking in an Oyerepa TV interview, Joseph Osei-Owusu, who is affectionately called Joewise, said that he is one of the over 100 MPs who are supporting the presidential bid of Dr Bawumia.

“Most of the NPP MPs at the last count were about 118 MPs and I am one of them. I speak for myself and my support for Bawumia, and I know over 100 NPP MPs also support Bawumia,” he told the morning show host of Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, Kwesi Parker-Wilson.

He added that declaring his support for Bawumia does not violate the party’s order against active campaigning because most of the presidential candidates themselves have started campaigning.

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Years of slavery, colonialism has left Africa with an impossibility mindset- Bawumia

Bawumia, Man of integrity
Bawumia, Man of integrity

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the most competent vice president of the Republic of Ghana, has lamented the inability of Africans to deal with everyday issues.
He claims that the continent’s incapacity to solve issues is largely a result of its mentality of impossible.

Dr. Bawumia, a credible politician


“In my view, the greatest bane to the development of Africa is our inability to solve the basic problems of the absence of unique identity for our population, functioning property address systems, financial inclusion, payment systems, efficient public service delivery, etc. that underpin our economic activities. For many years after independence, we have been trying to transform our economies without data and transparent systems. Without data and systems, African countries cannot participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.


“The truth is that we have for long been shackled by an impossibility mindset that is probably the result of the experience of years of slavery and colonialism. We don’t believe in ourselves,” Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia shared over the weekend.


The Vice President expressed these ideas while serving as a guest speaker at Harvard University’s African Development Conference at the Harvard Law School.
Dr. Bawumia thinks that Africa has capacity and has to start tackling its problems.


“for us to realize our full potential and set ourselves apart we need to break the shackles of impossibility mindset and embrace the mindset of possibility. African countries can do what the advanced countries have done and more. It is possible,” Bawumia stressed.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia also discussed his thoughts on the subject of envisioning Africa’s development on our terms.
He also said that the transformative potential of technology lies at the core of this idea.

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Gov’t will be fully involved in Atsu’s funeral-Dr. Bawumia

Bawumia receives remains of Atsu
Bawumia receives remains of Atsu

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.

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Politics

A ‘Can-Do Veep’ – Transformational policies championed by Bawumia

Dr. Bawumia, best Vice President in Ghana
Dr. Bawumia, best Vice President in Ghana

Ghana’s Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has completely transformed the role of the Vice President, establishing himself as the most transformational holder of his position in the history of Ghana’s democratic dispensation.

Whilst many Veeps have come and gone without affecting any change from the position, Dr Bawumia has completely ushered in a new era of the can-do Veep – spearheading multiple transformational government projects that clearly have his stamp.

The result is a track record of achievement for the current Vice President that no Vice President – and even many Presidents – in the history of Ghana would struggle to match.

This stunning impact from the Veep has not gone unnoticed, with many political pundits and strategists remarking on how uncommon it is for a Vice President to wield such power and influence.

In a recent op-ed, a United States-based Ghanaian political consultant, Dr Ekow Acquah, noted how Bawumia is a rare political unicorn in being an impactful Vice President, not just in Ghana but in the entire world.

“Even in the United States, which is widely considered the world’s most advanced democracy, the role of a Vice President, as defined by the American Constitution, is extremely limited.,” Dr Acquah wrote.

Meanwhile, he added, Vice Presidents in the 4th Republic have played “limited roles…largely as a result of their limited and undefined roles by the 1992 Constitution,”

Dr Acquah continued: “Unlike his predecessors, who limited themselves to their constitutional roles, and merely acted as representatives of the President at meetings and festivals, Dr. Bawumia has made the position more relevant through his foresight and spearheaded many transformational policies, which have not only endeared the NPP Government to the public, but are also making meaningful impacts and transformation on the Ghanaian people,”

Whilst Bawumia has a calling card – digitisation is his bread and butter – the Vice President’s achievements are broad-based, spanning multiple sectors and impacting all.

Transformational Policies, Services and Projects Championed By Dr. Bawumia

In his brilliant op-ed titled, ‘Dr Mahamudu Bawumia: The most effective Vice President in Ghana’s History’, the aforementioned Dr Acquah provides a list of Dr Bawumia’s most impressive achievements as a Vice President.

They include….

*Zipline Drones for delivery of medical supplies (Omenako, Mpanya, Vobsi, Sefwi Wiawso, Anum, and Kete Krachi), which has made Ghana the country with the the largest medical drone delivery service in the world!

*Mobile Money Interoperability between bank accounts and mobile wallets – first in Africa. This has made Ghana rank first in Africa in terms of access to financial inclusion.

• Zongo Development Fund – a development vehicle for inclusive Zongo development.

• Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) – a stop-gap measure to respond to increasing graduate unemployment, and also to offer young graduates work experience.

• One Constituency One Ambulance, the policy which provided all 275 constituencies with brand new ambulances.

• Agenda 111 – the construction of district hospitals in districts without district hospitals.

• Digitization of National Identity Card (Ghanacard), which is building a strong national identity system

– Universal QR Code payment system- Ghana is the first and only country in Africa to implement this

– GhanaPay mobile wallet by banks- Ghana is the first country in the world to implement this.

o National Digital Property – Address System -First in Africa

o Paperless Ports, which has increased efficiency and revenue mobilisation.

o The Ghanacard as a travel document to travel to Ghana

*No Guarantor student loans

*Online Passport Application

*National E-Pharmacy Platform. Ghana is the first country in Africa to implement a national scale digital e-pharmacy platform.

o E-Ticketing at Football Stadia

o Ghana.Gov Platform for the delivery of Government services

  • Bank of Ghana Gold Purchase Program
  • exchange of Gold for oil imports program – a transformational policy which will impact on prices of oil products, foreign exchange reserves and the depreciation of the exchange rate.

*Also proposed Sinohydro barter agreement for infrastructure development. This has resulted in the following;
o Kumasi Innercity Roads (100km)
o Sunyani Innercity Roads
o Prestea Innercity Roads
o Nyinahin Roads
o Jasikan-Dodopepesu
o Tamale Interchange
o Takoradi Point 7 interchange
o Cape Coast Innercity roads

This a resume a President should be proud of. For a Vice President, it is an unprecedented sign of competence and efficiency.

As the world and consequently Ghana reels from massive shocks caused by the unprecedented conditions of the past couple of years, bold and visionary leaders find new ways to create an impact and Bawumia is doing just that in Ghana.

Little wonder then that he was recently adjudged one of the 100 most influential leaders in Africa. As a Vice President, he achieved that honour, rubbing shoulders with celebrated African Presidents such as William Ruto of Kenya and Macky Sall of Senegal.

That, on its own, demonstrates the rarity of Bawumia’s exceptional leadership.

Source: theGhanaianVoice.Com

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Politics

Who said the Economic Messiah cannot save the Cedi?

Dr. Bawumia saves the cedi
Dr. Bawumia saves the cedi
Dr. Bawumia

The Ghanaian economy under the watch of the Economic Management Team (EMT) led by H E the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has suffered denigrations from critics and some concerned Ghanaians owing to the economic mishap in recent times.


It was obvious and no fluke that the situation was not internally bred as affirmed by the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, however, external factors played a major role, a fact critics always denied.
Amidst the mishaps, the cedi in no time lost its value in the sight of the US dollar, to even make matters worse, the cedi lost half of its value and it took up the last spot on the charts. A dollar at a point sold at 15 cedis.
The exchange rate became a topic and trended across all social media networks weeks after weeks. Renowned media personalities also jumped on the matter in solidarity of the wailing Ghanaian. This I believe was a calculated attempt to score cheap political points. Instead of calming angry Ghanaians down, they were rather instigating citizens against the handlers of the economy.


Fast forward, according to a report by Bloomberg, the cedi has been the best performing currency for the past week, a fad that practically every levelheaded Ghanaian found appealing. It would have only been fair for these same media personalities to applaud the EMT but for their selfish interests they are reluctant.
According to the Bank of Ghana Exchange Rates as at Wednesday, 14th December, 2022, the dollar is selling at 10.4052 while buyers can have it for 10.3948.
I’m now convinced President Akuffo Addo was right when he said ‘they did not know how to bring back lives but know how to bring back the economy’.
The messiah is really up to task and the cedi is alive, indeed there’s Hope.

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Attacks on Bawumia by the NDC are unjustified- Awudu Mahama

Hardworking Bawumia
Hardworking Bawumia
Awudu Mahama

Awudu Mahama, editor of the Custodian Newspaper, has noted that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, vice president of Ghana, is roundly condemned by many Ghanaians, especially the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), who blame him for the party’s defeat.


He contends that the attacks leveled against the nation’s vice president are unjustified and excessive because they are not based on his functions and accomplishments in that capacity but rather on his political affiliation.
In an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show, he stated that the NDC party has struggled to retain running mates from the North throughout the years, and so are dissatisfied with Bawumia’s tenure with the NPP.


“I can understand why the NDC and those aligned with the opposition will be constantly attacking Vice President Bawumia even though he’s not the President. Because by and large, they believe being the running mate of President Akufo-Addo since 2008 has caused some defeats or more harm to them,” he said.

“This is the man President Akufo-Addo has had confidence in him, maintaining him three consecutive elections as running mate until they won and he’s done so much harm to the NDC caused their defeat and you’ll understand why they hate him that much.

H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

“When you look at the NDC and their running mates over the period, they’ve been changed. In 2000 NDC brought Martin Amidu and was changed because they felt he wasn’t good enough for the next election and brought Muhammad Mumuni in 2004.

“He was also changed because they felt he was also not good enough. In 2008 they brought John Mahama that’s the third person form the north and fortunately they won,” he added.
Mr. Mahama added that despite the Vice President being accused of corruption, Bawumia’s integrity has been supported by nonpartisan organisations in Ghana.

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Attacking Bawumia is unfortunate- Samba to Agyapong

chairman Samba stings Kennedy
chairman Samba stings Kennedy
Kennedy Agyapong

Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, has received criticism from Mohammed A. Baantima Samba, the Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for his attack on Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Because of the vice president’s significance to the NPP, according to Baantima Samba, the MP does not deserve to criticise him.


He claimed that Dr. Bawumia was instrumental in the NPP’s triumph in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections and deserves recognition for his hard effort.
“I strongly condemn his unprovoked attacks on the vice president whose efforts and sacrifices contributed hugely to returning the NPP twice into office, with its attendant benefits to Kennedy, myself and many party people across the country.

“If his likes would not honour the vice president for his work for our party, they should not be attacking him unprovoked,” he said.

“For a man seeking to lead a noble party like the NPP, Kennedy’s conduct and pronouncements must mirror what the NPP is noted for: respect, decorum, dignity, and civility in speech,” he added.
The Assin Central MP criticized Dr. Bawumia for the nation’s economic difficulty, especially the depreciation of the Ghana cedi, which he claimed cost him a lot of money.
The vice president, he said, shouldn’t be the one leading the NPP into the 2024 elections due to the economy’s dismal performance and his prior utterances.


“When your fundamentals are weak, the exchange rate will expose you. When you were making that statement, the exchange rate was GH¢4.20p. On Friday, it was GH¢15.00 to a dollar.

“What message do you want to give to Ghanaians again? Let me tell you; I’m telling you this straight; I’m saying all these things because of [something]…from March this year to August this year, through the exchange rate, I lost $12 million,” Kennedy Agyapong said in a viral audio.
He also threatened to shut down the presidential campaign of the vice president if he is not treated fairly in the flagbearer race of the NPP.

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Bawumia launches $450m Gulf of Guinea project

Dr. Bawumia is a visionary
Dr. Bawumia is a visionary
H.E Dr. Bawumia

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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.

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