The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said that in his 22 years of service to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), he has never slacked. According to him, in good and bad times, he stayed true to the NPP and never wavered and that he used those times to build a formidable track record of deeds.
The Vice President said these on Friday, June 16, 2023 at the NPP national headquarters in Accra, after submitting his nomination form to run for the flag-bearer position.
“Dear friends, over the last 22 years, I have worked hard with you for the NPP and for Ghana, from during the Kufuor era as deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, through our years in opposition and now in government,” he noted.
Dr. Bawumia continued that: “during this period, I have sacrificed for the party; I have defended the party in good times and in challenging times, I have never wavered nor slacked. Never! And I have built a solid track record of performance as Vice President and unflinching loyalty to our party and government through rain or shine.”
Though he did not explain how he defended the party, it should be recalled that Dr. Bawumia was the lead witness for the NPP’s 2012 presidential candidate when he disputed the election results in court.
VISION
The Vice President reminded the party and Ghanaians that though he served under President Kufuor as deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana and is currently vice president for Akufo-Addo, he has his own vision to build on the existing foundation.
“I also have my own vision for Ghana. I believe that it is time to move Ghana to the next level by building on the foundations we have put in place so far,” he added.
He said he has a compelling vision for Ghana’s future, adding that the country could possibly be like the advanced nations with determination.
DIGITALIZATION
Known for his advocacy for technological advancement, Dr. Bawumia aims to entrench and enhance the current strategy of industrialisation and introduce new technology-like digital manufacturing for the manufacturing of spare parts, syringes and other equipment.
He wants to see Ghana with a developed and efficient credit system by leveraging integrated databases across banks, the DVLA, the NIA and digital address systems.
This, he explained, would enable workers to buy furniture, cars, TVs, fridges and homes (mortgages) on credit at a lower cost.
The Vice President said he wants to see Ghana attain food security in the near future, aided by science, data, artificial intelligence and irrigation for commercial farming.
“Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an enhanced focus on private and public investment in tourism, creative arts, and sports,” he remarked, adding that “this is not an exhaustive list and in due course we will have a chance to lay out a comprehensive manifesto for Ghanaians.”
PLEA
He told the supporters, many of whom are party delegates from across the country, that the driving force is his vision to break the ‘eight’ and continue from where President Akufo-Addo stops.
“That is why I am offering myself, in all humility, to contest in the primaries of this phenomenal party, the great New Patriotic Party, to become our flagbearer and presidential candidate for election 2024 and, Insha Allah, the President of the Republic of Ghana.”
MORALE
Several key personalities of the party thronged the party office on Friday to accompany                         Dr. Bawumia to file his nomination, including some members of parliament and the Director General of the National Lottery Authority, Sammy Awuku.
Some MPs took turns to address the gathering, preceding that of the Vice President, who was there with his spouse, the second lady, Samira Bawumia.
This paper understands that out of the entire 137 NPP MPs, 120 have already declared their firm support and endorsed the candidature of the Vice President.
