As Ghanaians go to the polls on December 07, countless ongoing conversations at kitchen tables, inside African grocery stores, churches, salons, and barbershops among Ghanaians in the diaspora indicate H.E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the preferred choice to be the next president of Ghana.
Anecdotally, this support and sentiment, which goes beyond party affiliations between Ghanaians in the diaspora, attest to Dr. Bawumia’s vision for Ghana, character, strong morals, and achievements as the current Vice President of The Republic of Ghana and Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Below are some reasons why Ghanaians living abroad have a strong affinity for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his thought-provoking ideas.
Ghana Card
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s leadership in spearheading the implementation of the Ghana Card (which currently has one of the highest historical adaptation rates among many executed government programs by far) is a great example of his vision for Ghana, commitment to inclusivity, and ability to deliver impactful reforms.
The Ghana Card, a national identification card, has revolutionized access to essential services and strengthened the foundation for robust socio-economic development in Ghana. Between 2007 to 2016, only 9000,000 cards were issued. Dr. Bawumia taking over this project has led to 20 million (2016 to 2024) people with the Ghana card currently.
Visionary Leadership
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s leadership on the Ghana Card project showcases his progressive outlook, digital inclusivity, and ability to implement significant reforms.
The national identification card will drastically transform access to basic services for all Ghanaians – levelling the playing field.
The Ghana Card’s integration into Ghanaians’ daily lives, including banking, healthcare, entrepreneurship, travel, education, etc., demonstrates his ability to anticipate their future needs, hence the development of solutions for seamless national digital growth. Dr. Bawumia has openly stated, “All Ghanaians, even newborns, can be assigned a Ghana Card at birth, ensuring no one is left behind in accessing current or future government social or economic programs.”
National Digital Transformation Vision
DMB’s commitment to introduce automation is commendable. In the age of “Big Data,” it is important that Ghana is not left behind.
Ghana needs to create relevant digital solutions such as AI, remote, robotics, and machine learning to tackle bottlenecks, curb corruption, and curtail bureaucratic processes in the public sector ecosystem.
Bawumia is relentless about this vision, emphasising that he wants “Ghana to be the first African country to introduce blockchain technology in governance.”
Leadership
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia embodies Aristotle’s concept of phronesis, or practical knowledge, which is essential for successful leadership. He possesses a well-rounded set of qualities that enables him to handle difficult situations most sensibly and practically as possible.
Bawumia’s leadership in Ghanaian politics demonstrates Prudence and Bravery as he embraces innovative ideas to tackle century-old social and economic problems, such as deploying digitalisation.
His focus on fundamental changes, such as an interconnected economy and digitalised processes, acts judiciously and pursues creative, realistic routes to economic development.
Achievements
Dr. Bawumia’s leadership has been characterized by his focus on digitalisation and financial inclusion for marginalized groups, particularly in rural areas.
He has supported programs like the Ghana Card, facilitating the expansion of small and medium-sized businesses and promoting entrepreneurial innovation.
His leadership priorities also focus on creating an economically integrated digital infrastructure that will eventually position Ghana for future growth. His efforts go beyond mere promises, demonstrating his ability to address national challenges.
Morals and Ethics
DMB’s leadership is based on strong ethical principles, with his humility being a key characteristic that encourages warmness and trustworthiness.
This humility is well appreciated by Ghanaians living abroad, who view him as a leader who understands and embraces all citizens – appreciating the cultural and religious mosaic that exists in Ghana.
His ability to unite diverse groups demonstrates his commitment to national unity in a multireligious country like Ghana.
The depth and substance of his campaign message show his moral approach to politics, emphasizing constructive discourse over divisive language or personal attacks.
Fighting Corruption
Corruption hates sunshine. DMB knows this, and so do various institutions. As said by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Digitalisation has the potential to disrupt corruption by reducing discretion, increasing transparency, and enabling accountability by dematerialising services and limiting human interactions.
Ease of Service Delivery
Dr. Bawumia’s Digital Ghana Agenda streamlines public service delivery, reduces bureaucratic obstacles, and increases transparency.
This initiative, led by the DMB, has made Ghana a pioneer in digital innovation in Africa, aligning with global governance trends and enhancing public service delivery efficiency.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dr. Bawumia’s vision for Ghana offers practical, impactful, and proven BOLD solutions that will absolutely propel the growth trajectory of Ghana.
The above-itemized rationale and many other positive ideas proposed by Dr. Bawumia are the reason why millions of Ghanaians living abroad will be calling their relatives, friends, and loved ones living in Ghana to vote for DMB on Saturday.
Bawumia’s ideas, plans, and vision are very comparable to systems that exist in many Western countries; hence, when implemented, it benefits the average Ghanaian hugely, lessening the social and financial responsibilities passed onto Ghanaians living in the diaspora.
Source: William Akoto