With his more than three decades of public service, most credible vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has condemned former president John Dramani Mahama, calling him a politician without any policies. At a public event in the Ayawaso Central Constituency, Bawumia declared he would keep asking John Mahama the same question in the future because he thinks the former president will never be able to provide an answer. “I asked John Mahama one question, he has not yet answered it. So far, I asked him just one question.
“I say, John Mahama, you have been Assemblyman, you have been deputy minister, you have been minister, you have been vice president, you have been president; over the last 30 years, so tell us one policy we can associate with you over 30 years of political life,” he stressed.
The first time Bawumia launched the ‘attack’ on Mahama was at a party rally last month in Mpraeso in the Eastern Region.
“Just one, not two, one policy that you can say, as for this one, John Mahama did it. He has not yet answered it and he cannot answer it,” Bawumia said to cheers from the audience as he is flanked by Greater Accra Regional minister, Henry Quartey.
“So, if he cannot answer one question, then I wouldn’t bother with 700 questions this time around. I would just leave it at one, I am waiting for the answer and in the future, I will keep asking,” he added. Though he has not publicly declared his candidature, Bawumia is widely regarded as the front-runner in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership race expected to take place later this year. Senior aides have promised that he will run to lead the NPP into the election of 2024.
Currently on a national campaign tour, John Mahama is vying to be chosen as the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) flagbearer in the 2024 elections. A primary election scheduled for May 13 will pit him against Kojo Bonsu and Kwabena Duffuor.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says Africa is open for business and committed to creating a more integrated, dynamic and prosperous continent through trade partnerships and investments. He, therefore, urged African governments and businesses to work together to promote this unique potential to attract foreign investment and create sustainable partnerships that would benefit the continent and its international partners. “Ghana is proud of being at the forefront in this network and we look forward to working amongst partners worldwide to create a more equitable and sustainable future,” he said. Vice President Bawumia said this in a keynote address at the opening of the 53rd General Assembly of the World Trade Centres Association (WTCA) in Accra on Monday.
“Towards African Economic Integration and Enhanced Global Presence” is the theme for the five-day conference. The World Trade Centre, Accra is hosting the event, which attracted more than 350 delegates worldwide including captains of industries, business executives, heads of government institutions and civil society organisations. Ghana, thus, becomes the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to host the General Assembly of the WTCA, where participants would deliberate and explore trade and investment opportunities in Africa and foster partnerships.
Vice-President Bawumia commended the WTCA for launching an initiative called “Pivot to Africa” aimed at whipping up investment drive for the continent. “It comes at a time Africa is experiencing significant economic growth and transformation with immense opportunities for investment and trade,” he said. “The World Trade Centres Association recognises the enormous potential of the African market and the need to leverage it for their mutual growth.” “Ghana is fully committed to supporting this initiative and working with the World Trade Centres Association to enhance African investment and trade.” Vice President Bawumia called for concerted efforts by all stakeholders including governments, businesses and civil society to promote Africa’s unique potential to attract foreign investments and create sustainable partnerships.
Over the past six years, President Akufo-Addo unreservedly promoted Ghana and Africa beyond aid, aimed at ensuring an integrated agenda of economic independence in Africa by leveraging its natural resources for global partnerships in the best interests of the people. “Therefore, we should remain committed to free and fair trade and work together to create a level playing field for all,” Dr Bawumia said. “It is imperative for Africa to invest in innovative technology to advance its competitiveness on the global market and drive economic growth.” The Government had also established a strong foundation by leveraging on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and implementing the digitalisation agenda towards streamlining public processes and services and removing bottlenecks that impeded progress in almost all sectors of the economy. The creation of a unique identification for all Ghanaians by issuing of the Ghana-Card, mobile money interoperability payment system, which had enhanced financial inclusion, and roll-out of the digital property addressing system for easy location of properties are examples of the digitalisation drive.
The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Mr Wamkele Mene indicated that any continent that ignored Africa’s trade potential did so at its own peril because “the continent is the future of the world’s economy.” Through AfCFTA, Africa had taken concrete steps towards economic integration, he said and cited the establishment of the Pan African Payments and Settlement System, which ensured that businesses could engage in cross-border transactions using a digital payment system. He expressed optimism that Africa’s combined trade value would hit $16 trillion by 2050 in view of the various steps taken to integrate economically. “The doors of the continent are open for business partnerships and investments for their mutual benefits.” The Chairman of the World Trade Centres Association, Mr John E. Drew, said the world should add value to Africa’s economic opportunities to ensure growth and prosperity for all.
He assured that the WTCA would work closely with Africa productively and co-operatively to advance their cause. He entreated the participants to build strong networks and establish business partnerships towards achieving the objectives of the conference. Togbe Afede XIV, the Executive Chairman, World Trade Centre, Accra, in his welcome address, said Africa’s three billion population was a great asset and its 20 per cent coverage of the world’s land mass provided a fertile ground to feed the world.
The mineral wealth and arable land was a launching pad for the world’s food security and economic transformation. He expressed confidence that with the integration process progressing steadily, Africa would soon increase its current two and three per cent global trade and gross domestic product to a reasonable level.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has provided data to back his claim about the 2 million jobs created. Dr. Bawumia over the weekend when speaking about youth employment and opportunities during the national Eid-ul-Fitr Fitr celebration at Independence Square made mention of job created by his government. In a Facebook post on Wednesday while demonstrating why he is one of the credible and most effective vice president in Ghana, Dr. Bawumia provided facts and comprehensive data to back his claims. The post which contained the Ministry, the organisation or department of the Ministry, and the total number of employment created from 2017 to 2022 under each category was somewhat aimed at his critiques and naysayers. Below is the Facebook post with and image of the data: “Dear friends, I recently stated that our government has created over 2 million jobs since 2017. As usual, the naysayers have questioned how we could have done so. Their mindset of impossibility prevents them from accepting that. Well, the data attached shows year by year, ministry by ministry, and agency by agency, the jobs that our government has created since 2017. This excludes jobs under planting for food and jobs and the National Identification Authority. Away with negative thinking! It is possible!”
The most credible Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed that the government has started talks with the Global Legal Entity Identification Foundation (GLEIF) to provide a single source of identity verification for businesses operating in Ghana. This comes after the Ghana Card’s successful rollout and acceptance as the nation’s sole form of identification for citizens and residents of Ghana.
Competent Bawumia
On Monday, April 24, 2023, Dr. Bawumia stated that allowing Ghanaian businesses to participate in a universally recognised verification process would be the logical next step in the government’s integration and economic development agenda. This would give the businesses credibility and a global reach.
“We have made a great success of the Ghana Card in providing unique identity to individuals,” he noted. “We are now thinking beyond this because the case for unique identification for individuals is not just the case; it is even more important for unique identification for businesses because just as we need the confidence to know who we are dealing with, businesses also need that confidence and trust to know who they are dealing with.” He added, “And so we have started discussions with the Global Legal Entity Identity Foundation (GLEIF), to provide unique global legal identity to all businesses in Ghana. The legal entity Identifier is a unique reference code used across markets and jurisdictions to uniquely identify a legally distinct entity that engages in financial transactions. “This is an initiative driven by the G20 and the Financial Stability Board. But providing legal identity to our businesses, especially our SMEs, will make it very easy for our companies to participate fully in global economic and financial transactions.”
He asserted that “data is the new oil” and that any decision must be supported by an accurate examination of the data. “When I checked the database, I discovered that no African nation is currently a part of the Legal Entity identification scheme,” stated Dr. Bawumia. Therefore, if we sit down, we will be late once more. And it is for this reason that Ghana has begun talking about giving everyone of our enterprises a distinct legal identity so that when you deal globally, everyone knows who you are. “I believe that the AfCFTA should come on board this and let us get legal identity for all businesses across the African continent. That will make it much easier for transactions within Africa, amongst businesses and beyond because there is a single global legal identity for all businesses and that’s what we should be working towards.
“So my brother Wamkele (Mene, CEO of AfCFTA), we will talk some more about this but I think that this is where we should get forward because these are some of the micro foundations. “The lack of legal identity affects the poorer countries more than the much richer countries. And so we should take advantage of this opportunity to get it and get it for free basically for our businesses.” The General Assembly of the World Trade Center Association brings together national World Trade Centers across the globe to deliberate on ways to improve the business climate and activities of business entities, and provides members and their business networks with the opportunity to engage with each other, connect with and learn from local businesses in the hosting city, and foster partnerships word wide.
The Executive Chairman of World Trade Centre – Accra, Togbe Afede XiV, urged participants to take advantage of their presence in the “gateway to Africa” to explore the numerous opportunities on the continent, noting that with its vast arable lands, Africa could address the global challenge of food insecurity arising from the conflict in Ukraine. “Africa has great potential, and I will urge you to take advantage of your presence on the continent to engage, explore and enjoy Africa,” he added. H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Ministers of Trade from around the world, and John Drew, Board Chairman of the World Trade Centres Association are among those attending the four-day assembly.
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.
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.
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.
Come November 4, 2023, will be that time in the life of every Patriot of the Elephant family to make a decision that will somewhat make or break the party. Of course, the fortune of every patriot is dependent on the candidate we present for the general elections come December 2024.
Loyalty won’t be taken for granted when accessing the right candidate to lead the party. Alan Kyeremanten over the years has shown enough of his disloyalty to persons who gave him a shoulder to stand on when it mattered most.
It is a no-brainer that Alan Kyerematen rose to the political and national limelight due to the benevolence of President Kufour.
President Kufuor first appointed Alan Kyerematen as Ghana’s ambassador to the US in 2001 and then as a Minister of Trade and Industry until he resigned to contest as NPP flag bearer in 2007.
Those of us who were active in government and party saw how President Kufuor gave his huge shoulders for Alan Kyerematen to stand on. Alan became so powerful that he could appoint, transfer or remove appointees at will.
Former Trade Minister
Alan Kyeremayen was seen engaging in an opulence campaign. Sharing money both GhanaCedis and US dollars all over, hence the name Alan Cash.
Alan Kyerematen was abusing his power by flying Presidential jets and military helicopters to go and meet with delegates.
Unfortunately, Alan Kyerematen lost the Presidential primaries to Nana Akufo Addo.
Since then, Alan Kyerematen has consistently exhibited his disloyalty, self-seeking and ingratitude traits toward President Kufuor.
Alan Kyerematen has over the years boasted to close circles that he does not owe any loyalty to President Kufour. According to Alan, President Kufuor smartly tilted toward him at the end when he saw that Alan was the obvious choice to succeed him.
Alan Kyerematen gets furious when he is described as a protege of President Kufuor.
This is the reason why Alan never visited President Kufuor after the latter left power. Alan as a Trade Minister who never visited President Kufuor privately at his residence except showing up during birthdays to take pictures.
Alan never visited President Kufuor until it occurred to him that he will be contesting another Presidential primary and needed to create an impression in the eyes of his supporters.
Why is Alan Kyerematen trying hard to take cover from President Kufuor now that things are getting more difficult for him?
It is not surprising that President Kufuor has never publicly or privately said anything good about Alan.
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.
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.
