Egya Eba O, Egya Eba O, Egya Anya Ebadu! After several accusations and innuendoes from critics, including academics known more for sexual episodes with students than pronouncements in the classroom, for allegedly failing to deliver on his vision for the Presidency, Vice-President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia answered his critics on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 with a lecture that would go down well in the annals of the political evolution of Ghana, as one of the most thought-provoking policy statements of a Presidential Candidate in this land of our birth.
While the African Cup of Nations was serving a double bonanza in the semi-finals of AFCON ’23 in La Cote d’Ivoire and drawing the attention of soccer crazy fans to the event in Abidjan and Bouake, Ghana’s Vice-President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia engaged the political world of Ghana, by outlining his long-awaited vision on how he intends to use 21st century technology to bail this country out of the economic mess in which we find ourselves.
After his main challenger in the 2024 Presidential race and former head of state, John Dramani Mahama, has toured the country making pronouncements on a number of national issues, many Ghanaians waited on the Vice-President to make public his vision and mission statement.
On Tuesday evening, while the Super Eagles of Nigeria took on South Africa’s Bafana Bafana for a place in the finals of the 2023 Afcon, Dr. Bawumia took to the podium at the Kofi Ohene-Konadu Auditorium at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, to outline his vision for the Presidency.
He was received by party faithful who milled the auditorium in their numbers and many others outside the hall and wishing him well. The renowned Economist never disappointed the New Patriotic Party’s Presidential flagbearer defined his vision as a ‘New Chapter’ in local politics.
He spoke on several thematic areas. He lectured the country on how his government intends to cajole the private sector to power various development projects across the country, policies and programmes to reduce the cost of living, and create condition for Housing for all Ghanaians, among others.
He might have ruffled a number of feathers in his own administration by boldly telling Ghanaians that if given power at the December 7 polls, he would abolish the controversial E-Levy. The Vice-President told Ghanaians that he will introduce a new flat tax regime in the country.
What I found challenging is his bold pronouncement to work with only 50 ministers. We have 16 regions. Appointing a minister for each region would eat away 16 of the 50. That would mean only 34 political heads to operate all the ministries in this country. That is why the pronouncement is a bold vision.
In a clear jab at his main rival, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, the come-back kid who is touring the country as the new messiah, Vice-President Bawumia told Ghanaians that he would need no honeymoon. “I am clear on what I want to do as President.”
At a meeting with the leadership of the Trades Union Congress, Mr. Mahama asked for some kind of honeymoon during which period he and his administration would prepare to deliver without hindrance.
Alhaji Bawumia, on the other hand, assured Ghanaians that he has a fair idea of the problems confronting the nation and how to prepare to get things right and would not need any period of honeymoon.
“My administration will provide incentives for the private sector to complement government efforts in the provision of many infrastructure and other services to reduce government and improve maintenance,” he said.
The Programme was dubbed ‘Bawumia Speaks.’ I believe those who planned the Tuesday’s programme wanted the Vice-President to respond to many rhetoric from the camp of the National Democratic Congress, whose flagbearer has had a busy schedule on the campaign trail of late.
So far, the only policy of note, coming from the Mahama campaign is the so-called 24-hour Economy. I must be honest I have not really understood this policy. Quite recently, NDC chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia explained that the 24-hour economy is like a welder who usually work during the day. This time the welder could work in the night because government would provide cheaper electricity tariff during the night as an incentive.
Do I understand this to mean that a carpenter contracted to roof my house could arrive in the night, encouraged by the reduced tariff to undertake the assignment in the night? My thinking is that if Asiedu Nketia’s idea of a 24-hour economy is meaningful, would it not lead to a more expenditure by my carpenter friend, in the sense that he would need extra staff to hold the light while he worked?
I may be wrong, but I get the impression that unless someone properly engages Ghanaians on the 24-hour policy, I would be left with the impression that the Mahama administration may want to cut down on day-light activities apparently to conserve power.
With the hindsight of how Dum-so so devastated this country during the era of the last NDC administration, I am beginning to feel that the new policy is a way of conserving power during the day.
Dr. Bawumai told his audience that the 24-hour economy sold by his rival is not an earth breaking philosophy that has suddenly been unleashed at any point in time. He said there were various aspects of the economy that are already running 24 hours. He mentioned the health sector and security services that were on the 24-hour shifts.
He painted the picture of this country running on a ‘Digital Ghana.’ I have been doing a lot of thinking in the last few months about lessons in the last seven years, as well as my vision and priorities, as I seek to become the President of Ghana. Clearly, the initial conditions as we inherited in 2017 are not the same, as will be in 2025. Therefore, my government will not be pursuing or prioritising the same policies we have done between 2017 and 2024.
He told the nation that his ‘Digital Ghana’ vision aims at applying technology to transform key sectors of the economy; including agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing, the financial sector, etc., for a prosperous digital economy.
“I want to build a Ghana where we leverage technology data and systems for inclusive economic growth. I want us to apply digital technology, STEM robotics and artificial intelligence for the transformation of our society.”
Dr. Bawumai also promised a constitutional review under his presidency the ex-gratia and propose ways and means of limiting excessive Presidential powers. The Vice-President also talked about the review of the dual citizenship law which has landed the Member of Parliament for Assin North, Mr. James Gyakye Quayson in court.
Already, the NDC candidate, Mr. John Mahama, has made a number of statements on his vision and mission on the way to the December 7 vote.
He has promised to revamp the national team, the Black Stars by relying mainly on local players, a policy that may not have gone down well with a key member of his kitchen cabinet, Dr. Randy Abbey. The former President has also hinted of empowering individual households to rear chicken in their compounds.
In the next few weeks, this column will analysis on the policy guidelines outlined by these leading contenders to the crown about to be bequeathed to whoever Ghanaians will put their trust in, as we prepare for the Presidential polls in December.
If and when other pretenders to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s crown at the Jubilee House make their policy statement, this column will examine those policies and make informed pronouncements on them.
The stage is set for the Mahmadu and John encounter. Its John 3:16 vs BMW. In case you are unaware, BMW stand for ‘Bawumia Must Win’. It is an acronym coined by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP.
Politicians have a way of finding motivation from somewhere.
I shall return!
Ebo Quansah in Accra
