Delegates, Rally Behind Bawumia: The Politics of Generational Thinking
I have lived outside Ghana for over two decades, but I was born and raised in the country and remain deeply familiar with its socio-economic and political dynamics. Distance has not dulled my understanding; rather, it has sharpened my perspective.
Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, I witnessed the era of Jerry John Rawlings firsthand. There is no disputing the fact that Rawlings was Ghana’s longest-serving Head of State, and by extension, the PNDC/NDC enjoyed the longest continuous stewardship of governance by any political tradition in our history. With such longevity came immense opportunity both in time and in access to resources. Reasonably, one would expect transformational outcomes commensurate with that privilege.
Yet, when one critically reflects on that period and attempts to identify even a handful of truly generational or transformational policies that have sustained Ghana over time and will continue to do so into the future, the list is surprisingly thin. As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected.
Since the advent of the Fourth Republic over three decades ago, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have alternated in governing Ghana. An objective comparison of their records reveals a clear pattern: the bulk of impactful, generational policies were introduced under NPP administrations.
Under President John Agyekum Kufuor and Vice President Aliu Mahama, Ghana witnessed landmark interventions such as the National Health Insurance Scheme, the School Feeding Programme, Metro Mass Transit, and major infrastructure expansion. These policies reshaped everyday life for millions of Ghanaians and continue to yield dividends.
More recently, the administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia deepened this tradition. Free Senior High School, One Constituency One Ambulance, the Ghana Card, Mobile Money Interoperability, the Gold Purchase Programme, and unprecedented nationwide road construction stand as defining achievements of this era.
Perhaps most remarkable, however, are the innovative economic responses born out of global adversity following the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. The Gold for Oil, Gold for Reserves, and Gold for Forex policies conceptualised and driven by Dr Bawumia have become central pillars of Ghana’s economic stabilisation and recovery. These initiatives, in many ways, mirror the bold institutional innovations that emerged from the Bretton Woods conference after World War II to stabilise Western economies.
Today, Ghana’s economic recovery from 2024 onward rests significantly on these policy foundations. Even institutions such as GoldBod (formerly PMMC) derive their renewed relevance from the Gold for Reserves and Gold for Forex frameworks. Ironically, aspects of the current economic discourse, even from the opposition, are built on these same innovations.
Dr Bawumia’s impact extends beyond policy. He fundamentally transformed the Office of the Vice President from a largely ceremonial position into one of active leadership and intellectual influence. This transformation was facilitated by a President known for grooming future leaders, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and exemplified by Dr Bawumia’s own competence and initiative.
Since entering the national political stage in 2008, Dr Bawumia has demonstrated consistency, humility, and a clear vision for Ghana’s future. His emphasis on digitalisation across all sectors of the economy was not cosmetic; it was strategic, aimed at building resilience against external shocks. Recent global disruptions have only validated this foresight.
Ghana today needs leadership anchored in ideas, innovation, and generational thinking. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia represents that leadership. As the New Patriotic Party reflects on its loss in the 2024 elections, the path to renewal must be merit-based, inclusive, and forward-looking.
For NPP delegates across the country, north and south, east and west, irrespective of religion or ethnicity, the choice should be clear. Dr Bawumia is calm, capable, and exceptionally prepared to lead. If the NPP is to reclaim power in 2028, it must do so with a leader whose ideas are already shaping Ghana’s future.
Back Bawumia, Vote Bawumia (B-B-V-B).
Nana Boakye
(London)
