The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed his readiness to serve Ghana if elected in the 2024 general elections.
Throughout his campaign, the NPP flagbearer has made several promises which he believes will transform the country’s fortunes.
In an interview with the Africa Watch Magazine April/ May 2024 edition, Dr. Bawumia underscored his commitment to the progress and prosperity of Ghanaians.
He recognized the challenges confronting Ghanaians, asserting that decisive leadership is required to tackle pressing issues such as economic development, social inequality, and infrastructure.
“I am running for president because I am deeply committed to the progress and prosperity of Ghana and its people. I have prepared myself for the job and I want to assure Ghanaians that I am ready to serve with all my heart and energies. Throughout my career in public service, I have witnessed first-hand the challenges faced by our nation and the immense potential that exists to overcome them.
“I believe that Ghana is at a critical juncture in its history, and decisive leadership is needed to address pressing issues such as economic development, social inequality, and infrastructure improvement.”
Moreover, he outlined the skills and capabilities he would bring to the presidency if elected.
“As an economist by profession, I bring a unique perspective and skill set to the table, grounded in evidence-based policy-making and a pragmatic approach to governance. I am passionate about implementing innovative solutions to propel Ghana forward and improve the lives of all its citizens. Also, the world is quickly moving into the digital age, and Ghana should not be left behind,” he stated.
Dr. Bawumia reaffirmed his commitment to leveraging the transformative power of digitalization to usher Ghana into a new era of progress and prosperity.
“I am deeply committed to harnessing the transformative power of digitalization to propel Ghana into a new era of progress and prosperity. Digitalization is not just a policy initiative for me. It is a fundamental pillar of my vision for the future of our nation.”
He emphasized that his presidential bid is not about seeking power or prestige, but about making a positive impact on the lives of Ghanaians.
“I am dedicated to building a future where our youth have access to quality education, our economy is vibrant and inclusive, and our society is built on the principles of fairness, justice, and equality. Running for president is not just about seeking power or prestige.
“It is about service to the nation and a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of our people. It is about solving problems, and I am a problem-solver, as evidenced in my work at the central bank and as vice president. I am ready to lead with integrity, humility, and vision, and I am confident that together, we can build a brighter future for Ghana.”
Dr Bawumia highlighted the cedi’s resilience under the President Akufo-Addo administration, emphasizing his position on stabilizing the cedi’s value.
He remarked that despite ongoing global economic challenges, the depreciation of the cedi has been managed effectively, especially when contrasted with the previous NDC administration.
“Why not? We use averages to measure progress in statistics and economics all the time. It is a valid comparison of the management of the exchange rate under our government versus under the NDC government. The point is that notwithstanding the major global and domestic challenges we have been through, it is remarkable that whereas the exchange-rate depreciation between 2009-2016 averaged 13.9%, between 2017-2023 it averaged 13.1%. That is a fact,” Dr Bawumia stated.
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“The data shows that from 2009-2016, the cedi depreciated cumulatively by 71.1%, and between 2017 and 2023, the cumulative depreciation was 64.6%. So, whether you look at the average or the cumulative, the depreciation of the cedi has been lower under our government, notwithstanding the severe global shocks we have endured. That is the basic truth.”
Dr. Bawumia also defended a remark he made during the NPP’s 2016 campaign, reaffirming his view that an exchange rate reflects a government’s strength when its fundamentals are robust.
He attributed the current exchange rate’s fluctuations to global crises such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the 2019 COVID pandemic.
“Absolutely! It is still true, and I will continue to stand by that statement. We saw that between 2017 and 2021 when the fundamentals in terms of the fiscal deficit, inflation, GDP growth, external balances, and international reserves were fairly strong, the exchange rate was relatively stable,” he said.
