Day: June 16, 2023

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia says he has worked very hard and served the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Government with humility, dedication and honesty and ready to lead the Party as its flagbearer into the 2024 General Election.

‘… And 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,’ he said.

‘It is possible to break the eight, in order to continue with the transformational policies we have started. It is possible!

‘ I am counting on your support from now through the primaries to the general election in December 2024 and beyond. By the grace of God, Insha Allah, victory will be ours,’ Dr Bawumia said.

Vice President Bawumia made the remarks when addressing teeming supporters of the NPP at the Party’s headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, after filing his nomination forms to contest in the Party’s Presidential Primaries.

The Vice President was accompanied by his wife, Samira, and some members of Parliament.

The Vice President months ago engaged Majority Caucus in Parliament, Council of Elders of the Party and traditional and religious leaders on his ambition to contest in the Party’s Presidential Primaries.

‘Thank you all for the overwhelming support you have shown me today. I am very humbled by this massive show of support. I would also like to thank my dear wife Samira and all my family for the support you have given me all these years.

‘I have just filed my nomination forms to contest as flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party for the 2024 Presidential Election. I believe this is the first step to our victory in 2024, by the grace of God,’ he said.

‘This is a very important day in my life. From Sakasaka Primary School to Tamale Secondary School, to Oxford University, to Bank of Ghana as Deputy Governor and then to become Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.

‘It has been an amazing journey and I thank God for how far he has brought me,’ he added.

The Vice President said it had taken a lot of hard work, discipline and patience to be at his current position as Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.

‘I have walked to school growing up in Moshie Zongo in Tamale. I have been a by-day worker on farms during holidays in secondary school, I have been a warehouse boy even after finishing university, I have been a minicab driver, I was only able to pay fees for one term during my studies at Oxford University and had to survive for the rest of my studies without paying fees, thanks to my College,’ Dr Bawumia recalled.

He remembered how he settled his fees, which was in arrears after completing his PhD in Canada.

‘I have also been a cleaner of dormitories in my university days in Canada. So, I can say that I have not had it easy at all. But I have always believed that with hard work, honesty, discipline and faith in God, one can fulfill one’s potential,’ he added.

‘I care about the poor, I care about the vulnerable and the excluded.

‘I care about the lepers, I care about the sick, the sickle cell sufferers and cancer patients, I care about the disabled, I care about the Kayayei, I care about street children, and I care about the unemployed amongst others,’ he said.

That, he believed, was the true essence of life to address the problems of the weakest in the society.

‘I am not afraid of hard work. In fact, I enjoy hard work. My experience in life tells me that honesty and hard work pays. I worked hard for H.E. President Kufuor as Deputy Governor at the Bank of Ghana and I have worked hard as Vice President in assisting the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, achieve his vision.

‘Together, we started the process of transforming Ghana into a country ready for the fourth Industrial Revolution.

‘I brought honesty, hard work, dedication and discipline to my role as Vice President,’ Dr Bawumia stated amid clapping of hands by the gathering.

Notwithstanding the current economic challenges, Dr Bawumia said the government had constructed more infrastructure than any other government in the fourth republic.

It had also undertaken many transformational policies, including the mass issuance of the Ghanacard, Digital Address, Mobile Money Interoperability, Delivery of medicines by drones, One-District One-Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, Zongo Development Fund, Agenda 111, Free TVET and Free SHS.

He said after implementing those transformational policy initiatives, it was important that the nation did not go backwards, adding that Ghana needed to move to the next level by building on the foundations the Akufo-Addo’s Administration had put in place.

‘Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we leverage technology, data and systems for inclusive economic growth.

‘I want to make Ghana the digital hub of Africa. I want us to bridge the digital divide and apply digital technology and artificial intelligence for the transformation of healthcare, education, and public service delivery amongst others,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Upper West Region’s Mock Parliament and Debate session has been held in Wa to mark the first official event to start the 30th Anniversary of Ghana’s Parliament celebrations in Northern Ghana.

Students from the University for Development Studies, (UDS), Tamale, the Bolgatanga Technical University, Bolgatanga and C.K.Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo and the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies and Dr Hilla Limann Technical University, Wa formed the Mock Parliament.

They mimicked the National Parliament, and went through ‘Correction of Votes and Proceedings, Statements, Motion and Adjournment,’ exhibiting their knowledge and skills on parliamentary proceedings and processes.

The audience was held spellbound throughout the siting that marked the maiden edition of the 30th Anniversary of Ghana’s Parliamentary celebrations in Northern Ghana.

A ‘motion on the introduction of money into Ghana’s elections’ was laid in the House for debate and those in favour, noted that the use of money and other material gifts in Ghana’s electioneering processes, was a factor affecting quality and competence of parliamentarians elected into the House.

The students said the introduction of monetary and material gains into the country’s political system had influenced many voters to sacrifice competence for mediocrity.

The debaters explained that ordinary citizens who had the competence and brilliance to serve were denied the mandate to serve because they had no financial resources to compete in the elections, noting: ‘this is not doing the country any good, and must be discouraged.’

‘If you don’t have the knowledge, if you don’t have the passion, zeal and interest of serving the people, desist from the use of money to buy votes and at the end of it all, decline to do what is expected of you,’ the students cautioned.

However, those against the motion thought money use was not a problem of the electorate but the contestants and their political parties in the elections.

They noted that even though contestants were very much aware of the duties of parliamentarians, some of them made vague promises of bringing development projects to their constituents; knowing very well that ‘It is not our duties and responsibilities to take up development agenda of the central government,’ the students said.

The debaters told those in favour of the motion to try to distinguish between supporting the needy and vote buying during electioneering years.

Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Member of Parliament for Wa Central who represented the Speaker of Parliament, Right Honourable Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin at the forum, said 30 years ago Ghana was under military rule but was now experiencing a survived parliamentary regime, which had brought peace and development to the people.

He said Ghana had come far in her democratic dispensation and that time had come for it to unearth and prepare young students to take over the mantle from the older generation to sustain the democratic governance of the country.

He urged the Mock Parliamentarians do not rest on their oars but should persevere to take up leadership positions in their endeavours to help sustain Ghana’s democracy

Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, who addressed the forum, said the fourth republican parliament had played a vital role in shaping Ghana’s democratic credentials and fostering national development, regional integration and upholding the rule of law and human rights.

He said parliament had also been championing the people’s interest by providing a platform for healthy discussions on issues of national importance; as ‘we witness stable democracy and accountable governance and respect for human rights and dignity.’

Traditional rulers, members of parliament, municipal and district chief executives, heads of government institutions, departments and agencies, the security agencies, religious leaders, civil society organisations, members of political parties, students, women groups, and a cross section of the public attended the forum.

The students took away cup trophies and various amounts of cash as their prize.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has been inaugurated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 12-member council, chaired by Chief Emmanuel Olabode-Afolayan, was inaugurated on Friday in Abuja.

Members include Mr Tunji Aritomo as Vice-Chairman, President of CIPMN, Prince Akinnola Babalola, Mr Shanu Ayuba, Vice-President I, and Mr Kingsley Ohia, Vice-President II.

Others are Alhaji Mohammed Danjuma, North West Coordinator, Alhaji Bala Barde, North East, Mr Robo Akpami, North Central, and Dr Sally William-Chinedu, South East coordinator.

The rest are, Dr O.K. Bakinson, South West, Mr Imoh Usoro, South South, and Mr Henry Ifeanyi-Mbadiwe, the Secretary and Registrar of the council.

In his remarks, Babalola, the president of the institute, expressed appreciation to former President Muhammadu Buhari and officials of the Ministry of Trade and Investment for their support.

According to Babalola, there is only one legally constituted leadership of CIPMN recognised by Federal Government and the ministry.

He called on the general public to beware of impostors currently parading as chairman and president of the Institute.

The president urged the newly constituted governing council to immediately start work, “as there is much to be done”.

Babalola noted that for the Institute to function effectively, it has to carry out some reforms in line with the Act establishing it.

He said that a Bill that would separate the membership arm of the institute from its regulatory functions was before the National Assembly for passage into law.

Earlier, the chairman of the council, Olabode-Afolayan, said they would soon commence some projects to fast track economic development of the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Act that established CIPMN was signed into law in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Act empowers the CIPMN to accredit and regulate all projects in the country, both public and private.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria