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Dr. Bawumia Dazzle Patrons On His Selfless Leadership & Bold Solutions Vision

In a stirring event held at the Kofi Ohene Konadu Auditorium, the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), the stage was set for a momentous occasion as Ghana geared up for its next phase of leadership. The air buzzed with anticipation as distinguished guests, political stalwarts and members of the New Patriotic Party gathered to witness history unfold on the 7th of February 2024.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

The atmosphere heated with positive energy as the Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia made his grand entry into the Kofi Ohene Konadu Auditorium, UPSA. Before delving into his vision as the spotlight fully shifted to him, the event began with a spirit-filled prayer offered by Apostle Dr. Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani, a poignant reminder of the spiritual foundation underpinning of the nation’s regard for the Almighty God.

As the event progressed, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information and Dr. Tibu Darko, Deputy General Secretary of the NPP took to the centere stage to extend a warm welcome to audience, setting the tone for what was to come and Mr. Stephen Ntim, Party Chairman, followed suit, emphasizing the party’s commitment to democracy, diversity, unity and how poised they are to attain victory in the upcoming Election 2024. Their words echoed a resounding call for solidarity, urging all to rally behind the chosen candidate and all parliamentary candidates for a brighter future.

Audience cheer Bawumia on

However, it was the presence of a towering figure from Ghana’s political landscape that added a midas touch of nostalgic and reverence to the event. Former President Kuffuor, affectionately known as Ghana’s gentle giant, graced the event with his wisdom and experience. Recalling his encounter with Dr. Bawumia over two decades ago, President Kuffuor painted a vivid picture of a man destined for greatness, a sentiment echoed by his subsequent rise in politics.

Reflecting on the challenges of modern leadership, President J. A. Kufuor emphasized the need for visionary leadership, grounded in both humility and technological prowess. His impassioned plea for competence and unity resonated deeply, transcending party lines and echoing the collective aspirations of the nation.

Bawumia Speaks

In his closing remarks, President J. A. Kufuor left no doubt about his belief in Dr. Bawumia’s ability to steer Ghana towards a brighter future. With unwavering conviction, he called upon all Ghanaians to embrace this moment of destiny, urging them to unite behind their chosen leader with renewed hope and determination. This huge endorsement was graceful and glorifying to the DMB brand and to a larger extent, the elephant family.

As the event proceeded, there was a palpable sense of optimism in the air, a shared belief that Ghana’s next chapter would be defined by selfless leadership, bold solutions, and a collective commitment to progress. In the words of President J. A. Kufuor; “Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man is now!” and with Dr. Bawumia at the helm of affairs, Ghana is poised to write a new and inspiring chapter in its storied history.

Finally, the Man of the Moment mounted the podium and all set to deliver his masterpiece. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia started as he unveiled his ambitious plans to propel Ghana into a new era of prosperities and opportunities. With the upcoming presidential elections looming, Dr. Bawumia’s speech captured the attention of Ghanaians nationwide, offering a glimpse into his vision for the country’s future.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and wife, Hajia Samira Bawumia

The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party began by acknowledging the pressing economic challenges facing Ghanaians, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global economic challenges. He emphasized the need to tackle rising costs of living head-on, outlining comprehensive strategies to address key areas such as agriculture, energy, housing, and transport.

Highlighting the importance of food security, Bawumia pledged to leverage technology and irrigation to boost commercial farming and enhance improved agricultural activities. He also unveiled plans to invest in renewable energy, aiming to reduce dependence on oil and gas while significantly lowering energy costs through the introduction of solar and wind power.

Underscoring Ghana’s vast natural resources, including gold, lithium, and bauxite, Bawumia emphasized the importance of value addition and Ghanaian ownership. He outlined policies to support responsible mining practices, formalize small-scale mining, and increase Ghana’s gold reserves to stabilize the national currency.

Dr. Bawumia reiterated his commitment to industrialization, particularly in sectors such as agro-processing, gold refinery, and automobile production. He emphasized the importance of empowering local businesses, reducing smuggling, and establishing special economic zones to spur economic growth and job creation.

Addressing concerns about corruption, Bawumia stressed the need for transparency and accountability in governance. He outlined plans to promote a cashless society, introduce digital currencies, and publish public contracts online to enhance transparency and reduce opportunities for corruption.

Bawumia reaffirmed his commitment to investing in education and healthcare, including expanding infrastructure at medical schools and supporting special needs students. He also emphasized the importance of caring for vulnerable groups, partnering with faith-based organizations to promote ethical values and community support.

Bringing his remarks to a conclusion, Dr. Bawumia appealed to Ghanaians to embrace his vision for the future, emphasizing his track record of integrity, hard work, and dedication to public service. He also urged Ghanaians to break free from the shackles of impossibilities and embrace the mindset of Possibilities.

With regards of the upcoming elections, Bawumia urged voters to consider the choice between progress and stagnation, pledging to lead Ghana into a new era of prosperities and opportunities.

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Politics

Ghana’s Next Chapter: Dr. Bawumia’s Vision of Selfless Leadership and Bold Solutions for the Future

In a momentous event scheduled for the 7th of February 2024 at 4:00 pm, Ghana’s Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, takes center stage as the presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party. With the much-anticipated address titled “Ghana’s Next Chapter: Selfless Leadership and Bold Solutions for the Future,” Dr. Bawumia is set to unveil his vision for a prosperous and harmonious Ghana.

Dr. Bawumia is set to speak on the 7th

The chosen venue for this significant discourse is the Kofi Ohene Konadu Auditorium at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

Dr. Bawumia’s focus on “Selfless Leadership” implies a departure from conventional political narratives, emphasizing a dedication to the collective welfare of the Ghanaian people. This theme echoes a commitment to servant leadership, where the needs and aspirations of the citizens take precedence over personal or political gain.

The concept of “Bold Solutions for the Future” hints at a forward-looking agenda that acknowledges the challenges faced by Ghana and proposes innovative, courageous approaches to address them. Dr. Bawumia seems poised to steer the nation’s economy and overall development through a transformative era, tackling issues head-on with strategic and daring initiatives.

As the event unfolds, it is anticipated that Dr. Bawumia will not only articulate his vision but also connect with the audience on a personal level. Humanizing the political discourse is crucial in fostering a sense of relatability and trust between leaders and the people they aim to serve.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Presidential Candidate of the NPP

This address serves as a pivotal moment in the political landscape, offering Ghanaians a glimpse into the leadership style and values that Dr. Bawumia envisions for the country. The choice of UPSA as the venue reinforces the importance of education in nation-building, signaling an understanding that a well-informed and empowered citizenry is vital for sustainable progress.

As Ghana eagerly awaits this event, there is a palpable sense of anticipation and hope for a new chapter guided by selfless leadership and bold solutions. Dr. Bawumia’s address has the potential to shape the narrative of the upcoming elections and, more importantly, the trajectory of Ghana’s future.

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Dr. Bawumia has shown that he is a unifier- Kwabena Agyapong

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Kwabena Agyapong, a former general secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has praised Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for his success and generosity after being elected as the party’s flagbearer.

One of the 10 competitors in the race, Mr. Agyapong, has publicly backed Bawumia since the results were revealed.

Kwabena Agyapong and the Venerable Bawumia in a picture

“I was one of the ten contestants in the election, and in the end, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia emerged the winner to lead our party,” stated Agyapong, thanking NPP members in the Volta Region for their support on Sunday during Dr. Bawumia’s visit. Such competitions require both generous winners and gracious losers to demonstrate their graciousness.”

“The victor, Dr. Bawumia, has shown great generosity. He has proven this by paying visits to everyone who disagreed with him. It was lovely for the four of us to be seated at the same table with him last Friday in Kumasi.”

He’s proven to be a uniter, and I’ve also shown grace in losing. In order to guarantee that he wins and the party wins in 2024, we are cooperating.”

In order to increase the party’s vote share in 2024, Mr. Agyapong asked Volta Region party executives as well as the victors and defeaters of the most recent parliamentary primaries to band together.

Kwabena Agyapong escorts Bawumia to the North

Since 1992, we have had more votes here, and with Dr. Bawumia, I am optimistic that we will have even more and succeed next year, in shaa Allah. Thus, let’s band together and strive for success.”

NPP National Chairman Stephen Ayesu Ntim, former General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong, and Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Member of Parliament for Efiduase in the Ashanti Region, were among the delegation led by Dr. Bawumia.

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Fui Tsikata yanks Gyampo

The debate over Ghana’s first mining lease for the extraction of lithium has drawn in participation from two legal and mining specialists, Mr. Fui Tsikata and Mr. Kofi Ansah.


Legal and mining experts jointly published a paper on Monday, December 11, 2023, in which they criticized the analysis conducted by the Institute Economic Affairs (IEA), Professor Ransford Gyampo of the University of Ghana’s Political Science Department, and Mrs. Sophia Akuffo, the former Chief Justice, for making “the error of promoting form over substance.”
A former lecturer at the University of Ghana Faculty of Law, Mr. Fui Tsikata, is a renowned lawyer with over forty (40) years of experience in the mining industry. On the other hand, Mr. Kofi Ansah served as President Rawlings’ first Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission from 1993 to 1999.


Despite pointing out two areas in which the government could have improved the lease, the two stated that the “widely-publicized criticisms are patently wrong” and that they are the result of an ignorance of the rules and regulations governing the mining business.
The government of Ghana granted a mining lease to Barari DV Ltd., a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Ltd., in October of this year so that the company could utilize lithium in Ghana. The Minister emphasized that Ghana will never export lithium in its raw form during the brief ceremony to commemorate the lease’s signing, calling it the best deal for the country.
The government of Ghana granted a mining lease to Barari DV Ltd., a subsidiary of Atlantic Lithium Ltd., in October of this year so that the company could utilize lithium in Ghana. The Minister emphasized that Ghana will never export lithium in its raw form during the brief ceremony to commemorate the lease’s signing, calling it the best deal for the country.
But several members of the public, most notably the IEA and former Chief Justice Prof. Gyampo, criticized the arrangement.


The Minerals Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Martin Ayisi, the Minerals Income Investment Fund’s (MIIF) Chief Executive Officer, Nana Yaw Koranteng, and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, took turns explaining to the public the procedures that led to the lease’s grant as well as its terms during a press briefing on Monday, December 11, 2023.
They maintained that the following benefits—which include the building of a refinery and the domestic sale of byproducts—are unprecedented and in Ghana’s best interests: the ten percent (10%) royalty rate, the thirteen percent (13%) free carried interest, the six percent (6%) interest secured by MIIF, and the additional three percent (3%) in the Australian listed holding company.


The Ministry and the Commission claim that the free-carried interest secured and the royalty rate are among the highest in the world. However, the company is still required to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange in order to increase Ghanaian participation to a minimum of thirty percent (30%).
Thoughts on the lease have persisted despite these justifications. The two experts think that the current state of affairs is such that a large portion of the commentary on the lease is misinformed and stems from a lack of knowledge about the mining sector.
“There are fundamental flaws in the methods used by the IEA and Professor Gyampo in computing revenues and the allocation of potential direct monetary benefits from the project that undermine the conclusions they seek to draw,” they claim.


It is a mistake to prioritize form over substance in the IEA and Ms. Akuffo’s argument that “joint venture agreements or “service contracts” are better than leases or concession contracts.”
They clarified that the project generates gross revenue of US$688 million annually, not the US$24 billion that Prof. Gyampo and the IEA had claimed. Furthermore, they clarified that the government would receive a minimum of 51 percent (51%) of the project’s revenue, rather than the 13 percent (13%) proposed by the IEA and Prof. Gyampo, when all the negotiated terms are taken into account.
According to them, the government’s earnings from mining operations are at their highest point ever, with typical operations typically providing an average of forty-five percent (45%) or less.


The two experts characterized requests for a joint venture made by the former Chief Justice and the IEA as misinterpretations of the sector. Regarding the argument pertaining to “joint ventures” and “service contracts,” it is evidently incorrect to state explicitly that they are superior to leases. The proposal doesn’t even try to compare financial terms in a way that is meaningful.
Spodumene concentrate, the beneficiated lithium ore, is the main product. They stated that they thought the government could tighten the language regarding the possibility of setting up a plant to process the concentrate from the mine and improve the pricing of this product.
They do, however, think that the government negotiated this agreement very well.


The government performed exceptionally well in obtaining the negotiated terms, according to similar analyses by Dr. Sam Jonah, the former president of Anglogold Ashanti; Dr. Kwabena Donkor, the NDC MP for Pru East; and Dr. Donkor, the former minister of power.
In response to Mr. Fui Tsikata and Ansah’s concerns, Mr. Martin Ayisi, CEO of the Minerals Commission, stated that the recommendations made by the two experts are highly appreciated. According to him, those conversations have already been taken into consideration, and additional terms need to be added to related agreements.


He clarified that the government still needs to approve the agreement with Piedmont. According to the CEO, the Commission is open to suggestions on how to do a better job. But he insisted that those criticisms be factual because many of them are not supported by the evidence.

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Govt provides GHC100million funding to young entrepreneurs — Bawumia

H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

The government has disbursed over GHC100 million as grant funding and training to youth-led start-ups and Micro, Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) to generate youth entrepreneurs and leverage Ghana’s youthful population to stimulate economic empowerment and development.

Through the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project (GJSP) and the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP) implemented by the Ghana Enterprises Agency, the government has provided capacity building on business management, technical assistance and grant funding to over 30,000 persons, selected start-ups and MSMEs, with many more expected to receive same in the coming year.

Addressing thousands of youth drawn from across the country at the end of a YouStartGrant Expo dubbed “Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs for a Resilient Economy” in Accra, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia reiterated the government’s determination to provide the youth with the necessary training and funds to make it on their own and contribute their quota to national development.

“It is exciting to note that these initiatives are ongoing efforts by the government to create an entrepreneurial economy. In September 2023, the government, through the Ghana Enterprises Agency, approved over GHC35 Million to 272 MSMEs under various components of the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP).

“Also, between September 2021 and August 2022, the government supported over 780 firms with grant funding of over GHS65 Million under the GETP.

YouStart cash donations for Startups

“I am happy to announce that the Government of Ghana, through the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project (GJSP) and the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP), will award grant support of almost GHS 65 million to 3,000 start-ups and MSMEs gathered here, with the total support to beneficiaries in 2023, totalling GHS 100 million. It is also important to note that a special grant package has been designed to support and empower Persons With Disabilities (PWD),” he announced.

Over 30,000 young persons and MSMEs have already received between four and five days of Business Management Training, with more entrepreneurs and start-ups and established enterprises expected to receive grant funding in 2024 under the YouStartGrant initiative.

YouStart Event in Accra

“By the end of these two Projects, the government will have supported more than 50,000 start-ups and MSMEs with technical and financial support through the Ghana Enterprises Agency.”

The overall impact of these two initiatives extends beyond financial figures and statistical metrics, the Vice President noted.

“This grant funding is not just a monetary transaction; it is an investment in the dreams, aspirations and potential of the youth. It is a signal that shows the youth of this great nation that ‘it is possible’. Through strategic partnerships and targeted interventions, we are creating an environment of possibilities where ideas flourish, businesses thrive and individuals find the means to unleash their potential. And it is surely the complementary pathway to nurture and reap the demographic dividend of having a youthful population.

“By providing financial resources alongside targeted training programs, we are empowering the youth for the paradigm shift of job creation as opposed to job seekers. I strongly believe that such Technical Assistance and catalytic grants will drive the objective of promoting private investments and business growth. This is a strategic move towards industrialisation, export expansion, and job creation.

“Let us recognise the significance of today’s grant signing ceremony in shaping the destiny of our nation. Let it re-echo in our minds and hearts that investing in the strengthening of the nation’s youth and businesses through these interventions stimulates and lays the foundations for economic growth and prosperity for all.

“By empowering the youth, we are contributing to a secure future where no one is left behind, and our nation stands as an icon of success on the international stage.”

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Support Bawumia’s suggestion to use Ghana Card as a credit rating system. It makes sense – Dr. Theo Acheampong

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Dr. Theo Acheampong, an economist, has stated that it makes sense for Ghanaians to use a credit score system starting in the upcoming year, as suggested by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

He stated that in order to achieve the ultimate goal of a customized credit score, using the Ghana Card to become the credit system’s anchor must be supported.

Dr. Theo Acheampong

At the 57th Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology congregation, Dr. Bawumia declared that Ghana will implement a credit scoring system the following year to enable citizens of Ghana to obtain personal loans and to assist financial institutions in managing the sharing of costs and risks with their clientele.

He believed that the credit system would guarantee debt repayment discipline.

“Ghana will launch a personal credit scoring system early in 2019.” Each person will possess a credit score. We do not yet have a credit scoring system in place.

As a result, interest rates are high and everyone is viewed as dangerous. However, we’ll talk about unique credit scores next. Therefore, you will have no credit score and difficulty getting a loan if you don’t pay back your current one. However, you will receive a great credit score and perhaps cheaper interest rates if you pay your loans back on time. More discipline will result from this, he said.

Dr. Theo Acheampong stated that “We must commend such policies” in a post on his X platform. Before the elections of 2024, the policy discussions have already begun, and some of us are here to critically examine them and suggest other directions. It is our civic obligation.

Below is the full write-up…

DR BAWUMIAH IS RIGHT: A PERSONAL CREDIT-SCORING SYSTEM DOES NOT EXIST, AND IT IS A MUST TO DEEPEN FINANCIAL ACCESS

Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumiah of the ruling NPP administration recently remarked, “Ghana will introduce a credit scoring system next year for citizens [individuals], which will help citizens access personal loans and help financial institutions control the allocation of risks and costs”.

 “right now our CREDIT-SCORING SYSTEM DOES NOT EXIST so everybody is seen as risky and the interest rates are high….But we are going to move into INDIVIDUALISED CREDIT SCORING…and that the Ghana Card will become the anchor for the credit system”.

According to the Bank of Ghana’s 2022 Credit Reporting Activity Report, there are currently three (3) licenced credit bureaus: XDS Data Ghana Limited, HudsonPrice Data Solutions Limited and Dun and Bradstreet Credit Bureau Limited. These companies operate under the Credit Reporting Act, 2007 (Act 726) and are involved in collecting credit data and providing credit referencing services to financial institutions. Furthermore, a total number of twenty-two (22) institutions and companies designated as data providers and authorized users of the credit reporting system were at various stages of full compliance (pp.8-9).

Pages 9 of the same report published by the Bank of Ghana notes that “Banks generally complied with data submission requirements and actively used the services of credit bureaus”.

Furthermore, 9.1 million searches were conducted by authorised users on individual borrowers or potential individual borrowers in 2022. Another 277,315 searches were conducted on businesses or corporate borrowers. By far, most of the searches were on individual borrowers (97%) compared with 3% of businesses.

However, it is important to note that the products and services offered by the Credit Bureaus are not INDIVIDUALISED CREDIT SCORING. Rather, these come in six (forms), namely:

“Consumer Basic Trace Report: This contains information on personal details, credit account summary, address history, guarantor details and telephone history. This is designed to help the lender in completing “know your customer” (KYC) documentation on the customer.

Consumer Basic Credit Report: This contains personal information, credit account summary, detailed credit facility status, and monthly payment behaviour.

Basic Commercial Report: It contains company registration details, directors and credit account summary. It is designed to provide background information on companies and basic information on credit exposure.

Consumer Credit Report – This contains the credit profile overview, credit profile summary, credit facility details, and demographic information. This report provides information on the credit exposure and repayment history of borrowers and empowers lenders to make better credit risk decisions.

Commercial Credit Report – This presents the credit history, demographic information and company profiles, and

Industry Reports – These include a variety of products to enhance the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) procedures of financial institutions with respect to banks’ business customers.”

In other words, the current data provided by the credit bureaus are amalgamated reports comprising different data points such as personal details, credit account summary, address history, guarantor details and telephone history. The companies, for one reason or another, are unable to combine this information into a COMPOSITE CREDIT SCORE such as offered by the likes of companies like Experian and TransUnion here in the UK where I am based, and which can allow the pricing of individual financial products and services. In terms of evidence, I have attached my Experian score, which currently sits at 961 out of 999 and is rated excellent. With this single number, I can access various products, including credit cards, loans, insurance, and other financial products.

Dr Bawumiah is right in the sense that an INDIVIDUALISED CREDIT SCORING does not exist in Ghana.

I am by no means an IT expert, but leveraging the Ghana Card to become the anchor of the credit system and, thereby, meet the ultimate goal of a personalised credit score is a sensible idea that all must support.

We must commend such policies. The policy debates have already started ahead of the 2024 elections, and some of us are here to interrogate them in detail and offer alternative pathways. It is our civic duty!

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Bawumia warns GRA: Use the Ghana Card to expand your tax base

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Dr. Mahamudu Buwumia, the vice president, has pleaded with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to use the Ghana Card as the foundation for data and information in order to expand the nation’s tax base.

The Life changing Ghana Card

He claimed that the government has been able to raise the percentage of individuals with Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) from the 4% it inherited in 2017 to the current 85% since the TIN and Ghana Card systems were merged.

I’m warning GRA about this. Now that we’ve put this together, I’m stating that the data is available,” the vice president stated.

Dr. Bawumia with the Asante Hene

He bemoaned, “It is a very lazy approach to go and keep looking for taxes from people who are already paying their taxes when you can look at the vast majority who are not paying their taxes,” emphasizing that greater revenue would be generated and the tax net would widen before further tax increases were necessary.

Dr Bawumia made the appeal in a keynote address at the 57th Congregation of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi last Friday.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who also serves as the institution’s Chancellor, honored the occasion.

Other guests in the jam-packed KNUST Great Hall included scholars, legislators, and traditional leaders. At the 57th Congregation of the KNUST in Kumasi, Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (3rd from left), and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (3rd from right) are shown beside other of the dignitaries who were awarded honorary doctorates.

Early in the next year, the Vice-President also alluded to the introduction of a personal credit score system by the government.
He claimed that “everyone would have a credit score” and that “interest rates were higher” since there was no credit score system and everyone was viewed as dangerous.

Vice President Bawumia bows to greet Otumfo


Nevertheless, Dr. Bawumia pointed out that the government had pledged its unwavering support to improve infrastructure and facilities, including the completion of the KNUST Teaching Hospital, in order to lessen the burden of student formation and training. This was in recognition of the demands made by the Free SHS on upper education institutions.

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John Mahama is confused, 24 hour policy is not well thought through- Bawumia

Bawumia hits hard at Mahama

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Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has criticised the 24-hour economy policy proposed by National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer John Dramani Mahama.

Dr Bawumia, who is also the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer for the 2024 general elections, asserted that Mr Mahama lacks an understanding of the policy he is promising to Ghanaians.

During his tour of the north on Monday, November 20, Dr Bawumia dismissed the idea, stating that a 24-hour economy cannot be legislated by the government.

24 hours economy policy does not make sense- Bawumia

He highlighted that various sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, security services, and digital transactions, already operate 24 hours due to the digitalisation agenda he has championed since 2017.

Dr Bawumia expressed his skepticism about Mahama’s proposal, emphasising that a 24-hour economy is already a reality for many businesses based on market demand and opportunities.

“I hear John Mahama has a new idea and he wants to run a 24-hour economy. I say where did he get this idea from? It is not a bright idea! A 24-hour economy cannot be legislated by the government,” Dr Bawumia said.

“Today, there are many businesses that are already working for 24 hours. Hospitals are open for 24 hours. You can buy electricity for 24 hours. Because of digitalisation, you can transfer money for 24 hours. There are many chop bars and restaurants that are open for 24 hours.”

John Dramani Mahama, the leader of the NDC, had pledged to establish a 24-hour economy as a key pillar of his campaign for the 2024 presidential election.

Mahama-Bawumia contest heats up

Mr Mahama argued that such a policy would contribute to economic growth and job creation, especially for the youth.

In a statement commemorating the 2023 International Youth Day, Mr Mahama outlined his administration’s commitment to nurturing a skilled and entrepreneurial youth.

He stated, “A new NDC administration will work urgently to equip our youth with the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills needed for a sustainable future. We will introduce a 24-hour economy with incentives and tax breaks for manufacturers who will run extra shifts to create more room for employment.”

In response, Dr Bawumia rebuffed the idea, asserting that it is not what Ghanaians need at the moment.

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The Jackie O Effect: Samira Bawumia’s Rising Influence in Politics

Every student of politics will tell you that Jacqueline Kennedy (Jackie O) was the main winner of the Jack Kennedy presidential campaign. Though her presence was felt after President Kennedy had won the Democratic primaries, she was the star of the whole show.

Jackie Kennedy wasn’t just a fashion icon or a pretty face; she was a brilliant writer, spoke three languages, and had the ability to capture the attention of her audience whenever she took to the podium. These qualities of Jackie O can also be seen in Samira Bawumia. From her (Samira Bawumia’s) iconic speech, which gave birth to the phrase “Incompetent Mahama,” to how she carries herself with grace and poise, Mrs. Samira Bawumia is our Jackie O.

The impact of an element of a campaign can be seen through the number of attack ads that opposition groups throw against such elements. As Madam Samira Bawumia concludes her Ashanti region tour, attack ads being launched at her clearly indicate how successful her tour must have been. From scrutinizing and calculating the cost of her clothing items to make her appear out of touch with the middle class, to accusing her of dishonesty and body modification (cosmetic surgery), they know she is a star, hence the attacks.

But in the face of all the attacks, she carries herself with grace and remains focused on her mission. If the attacks are the price to pay in order to build a lasting legacy (like the one Jackie O and JFK built in US politics), to her, it’s worth it. That’s the kind of mentality a First Lady material needs to make her partner’s presidency a success story.

The Bawumia campaign recognizes the Samira Bawumia effect, and best believe we will see more of her. I, for one, cannot wait to see what she has in store for us after November 4th.

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Former President Mahama to Grant Ato Essien Presidential Pardon: Controversy Surrounds High-Profile Decision

In a surprising turn of events, former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has announced his intention to grant Ato Essien, the former founder of Capital Bank, a presidential pardon. The decision has sparked controversy and debate across the nation, considering the severity of the charges and the recent conviction of Essien.

Ato Essien jailed for 15 years

Ato Essien, once a prominent figure in Ghana’s financial sector, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on October 12, 2023, for his involvement in a high-profile case of stealing and money laundering. The Accra High Court found him guilty on all counts, highlighting the misappropriation of over GHS600 million from Capital Bank and the use of the embezzled funds for personal gain, including luxurious vacations and funding his personal businesses.

Essien’s conviction was seen as a strong message against financial crimes and a deterrent to others who might consider engaging in similar activities. The judge in the case took into account the seriousness of the offenses and Essien’s lack of remorse in delivering the sentence.

Despite the court’s ruling and the widespread public support for the conviction, former President Mahama’s decision to grant Essien a presidential pardon has raised eyebrows. Pardons are typically granted to individuals who have demonstrated rehabilitation, expressed remorse, or served a significant portion of their sentence. In Essien’s case, where he was convicted on all charges and has not shown remorse, the decision to grant a pardon has triggered skepticism.

John Dramani Mahama

Former President Mahama has not yet elaborated on the reasoning behind his decision. This has led to concerns that political motivations or personal connections may be influencing the choice to pardon Essien, further fueling the debate surrounding the move.

Essien’s lawyers have already announced their intention to appeal the conviction and sentence, adding an additional layer of complexity to the situation. The ongoing legal battle, coupled with the potential presidential pardon, ensures that the Ato Essien case will continue to captivate the nation’s attention and spark discussions on justice, accountability, and the role of political figures in high-profile legal matters.

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