Akufo-Addo rallies support for Bawumia-NAPO ticket

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July 11, 2024
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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on members of the New Patriotic Party to unite, and rally behind the ticket of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh.

He expressed confidence that the party’s flagbearer is competent, hardworking and capable of achieving greater goals for Ghana.

Speaking at the official outdooring ceremony of the party’s running mate at Jubilee Park in Kumasi, President Akufo-Addo stressed, “I can boldly vouch for Bawumia and Opoku Prempeh.”

“From the start, Dr. Bawumia joined me, and we made a perfect pair. The NDC’s John Dramani Mahama denigrated him, claiming the NPP would never honour a Northerner, but he has been proven wrong. With Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, I saw his potential, and appointed him as my campaign director, where he excelled. He also performed exceptionally well in the Education and Energy sectors.”

The President encouraged party faithful to vote massively for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, come December 7.

For his part, the Vice-President President and flagbearer of the NPP , Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, disclosed that the party’s manifesto for the 2024 general elections would be launched in August.

Dr. Bawumia indicated that he aims to bring a new vision to build on the strides made by President Akufo-Addo’s government, partnering with the newly outdoored Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh.

He noted that the performance of the Akufo-Addo-led administration, despite the harsh world economic conditions, had been superior to that of the opposition National Democratic Congress.

He said he would work with his running mate towards achieving more developmental goals for the country.

He added, “We have performed better in all sectors of the economy, and we are ready to challenge the NDC anytime, any day. Dr. Prempeh and I have proven ourselves, and we won’t disappoint.”

“I started as a banker, and now that I’ve come this far. I need someone to support me with legislation and governance. He is a generational thinker, and therefore, our ticket represents change and greatness,” Dr Bawumia added.

He expressed gratitude to the NPP for the honour done him, adding, “The NPP is the only party that selects our leaders through tradition. Today, we can boldly say that we respect the Dankwa-Busia-Dombo tradition.”

Meanwhile, the newly outdoored NPP running mate, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has set a target of 85% of the votes from party faithful and supporters in the Ashanti Region.

“We don’t want 75% again; we want 85% from the Ashanti Region. Join hands with us to win, and make Ghana a safer and better place for all. What happened in 2008 will not happen again; we must come out, campaign, and vote massively in the elections,” he appealedto NPP members and supporters.

Napo, as he is popularly called, emphasised that the NPP rewards hard work and loyalty, stating “if you are a youth in the NPP, work hard, and you will be rewarded.”

The running mate further encouraged the youth to consider the future, and vote for Dr. Bawumia.

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December 4, 2024
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4 minutes Read

Bawumia stands tall among presidential candidates – President Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on Ghanaians to overwhelmingly support Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President and presidential candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the upcoming December 7 General Election.

He said that Dr. Bawumia possessed the expertise and vision necessary to lead the nation towards sustainable development and progress.

“I have one more request from you as far as my successor is concerned. When I take a look at all those contesting to be president, I firmly believe that the only one among them who can bring continuity and progress is Dr Bawumia,” the President noted in a Facebook post.

Dr. Bawumia is the fourth individual to be elected as the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a centre-right, liberal-conservative political party, since its formation under the Fourth Republican Constitution.

The NPP has been one of Ghana’s two dominant political parties, alongside its main rival, the centre-left National Democratic Congress (NDC).

This year’s presidential and parliamentary elections hold significant importance, with the NPP aiming to retain power amidst ongoing economic challenges.

Polls leading up to the 2024 elections indicate a highly competitive presidential race, as former President John Dramani Mahama, the NDC’s flagbearer, seeks to make a return to office.

Vice President Dr. Bawumia is campaigning under the slogan “It is possible,” with a commitment to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in achieving its goal of “Breaking the Eight.”

This ambition reflects the Party’s determination to break the historical pattern where no Ghanaian political party has remained in power for more than eight years over the past three decades.

Dr. Bawumia has promised to guide the nation towards a more inclusive future, harnessing the talents and resources of all citizens, irrespective of their political or religious affiliations.

The NPP’s manifesto underscores its focus on human capital development, building strong systems, embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and diversifying the economy, should the Party secure another term in office.

The NPP’s flagbearer has promised some one million jobs for the youth in the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector alone, driven by his ambitious digitalisation agenda.

“On December 07, when you go out to vote, just look at the first person on the ballot paper – Dr Mahamudu Bawumia – and vote for him,” President Nana Akufo-Addo rallied the electorate.

The Facebook post acknowledged the Vice President’s leadership qualities and competency, noting that: “Dr Bawumia has what it takes to take the country forward, and I urge you all to vote massively for him.”

On the economy, the Government says the stronger Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth performance in the 2017-2022 period was underpinned by the agricultural GDP growth, which increased from an average of 2.9 per cent between 2013-2016 to an average of six per cent (double) between 2017 and 2022.

According to the authorities, rice imports for example, have declined by 45 per cent (from 805,000 metric tonnes to 440,000 metric tonnes) between 2021 and 2023, and the goal is to ensure Ghana becomes a net exporter of rice by 2028.

Despite the global economic challenges, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, the Akufo-Addo administration takes credit for sustaining industrial growth at a level stronger than the 2013-2016 period.

Industrial growth, which averaged 3.3 per cent between 2013 and 2016, increased to 7.5 per cent between 2017 and 2020.

However, it saw a slight decline, averaging 5 per cent between 2017 and 2022 due to the ongoing global economic disruptions.

Ghana has consistently recorded a trade surplus, averaging US$1.9 billion from 2017 to 2022, which represents a stronger performance compared to the 2013-2016 period, despite the global challenges.

Additionally, the country’s gross international reserves increased significantly, rising from an average of US$5.8 billion in the 2013-2016 period to US$7.9 billion between 2017 and 2022.

Regarding the performance of the Ghana Cedi, despite a notable 30 per cent depreciation in 2022, the average depreciation of the local currency from 2017 to 2022 was 10.75 per cent.

“So again, notwithstanding the domestic and global economic crisis, the depreciation of the cedi under our government is lower than what we inherited from the 2013-2016 period,” Dr Bawumia stated in a recent meeting with some professionals in Accra, during his campaign tour.

Source: GNA

Politics

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December 4, 2024
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2 minutes Read

Voting NDC will kill free SHS – Collins Owusu Amankwaa warns

Collins Owusu Amankwaa, former Member of Parliament for Manhyia North, has urged Ghanaians to prioritize safeguarding the Free Senior High School (SHS) initiative as the nation heads to the polls this Saturday.

The former MP, speaking on behalf of the Ashanti Heritage Platform (AHP), highlighted the critical need for voters to make decisions that protect the future of the country’s youth and resist temptations that could undermine progress.

“Fellow Ghanaians,” he began, “we stand on the brink of an important opportunity—a chance to cast our ballots and shape the future leadership of our beloved country.

Together, we face a critical choice: to uphold the principles of an educated society or to compromise the future of our youth for a mere 1,000.”

The former lawmaker alleged that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been enticing voters with monetary promises, urging citizens to remain vigilant.

He expressed deep concern that voting for the NDC could jeopardize the Free SHS program, which he described as transformative for countless Ghanaian families.

“Think back to when the NDC promised a one-time premium under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). During their time in power, they nearly undermined this essential service,” he reminded the public.

“Similarly, when former President Kufuor introduced the groundbreaking four-year secondary education system—producing excellent results—the NDC opposed it and dismantled it upon returning to power.”

Collins Owusu Amankwaa also questioned the feasibility of recent NDC promises concerning Free SHS. “Today, they speak of the Free SHS program, which costs approximately 18,000 annually for each student.

“Why would you entertain the idea of accepting 1,000 and vote against this initiative, knowing full well that the NDC has made it clear they would abolish it if elected?”

He emphasized that while frustrations with unmet expectations might tempt some voters to support the opposition, such a decision would only worsen the country’s circumstances.

Instead, he urged voters to support Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), highlighting their commitment to sustaining Free SHS and advancing Ghana’s development.

“Let us not allow our frustrations or unmet expectations to drive us to support a party that would ultimately worsen our circumstances,” Owusu Amankwaa appealed. “We must unite in our support for Dr Bawumia and the NPP to preserve the Free SHS program and foster the continuation of numerous projects that benefit our nation.”

Source: asaaseradio.com