…Says Ghana Needs Thinkers, Not Spenders
New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has mounted one of his strongest defences yet of his record in office, declaring that Ghana’s transformation is being held back not by a lack of money but by a lack of innovative leadership.
Addressing a charged crowd of supporters in Ketu South, the former Vice President insisted that his digital reforms have already reshaped Ghana’s governance landscape—and prove he is the candidate capable of moving the country forward.
“It is not the money in your pocket that will allow you to transform Ghana. It is the ideas in your head,” Dr. Bawumia said, arguing that bold thinking, not budget size, is the real engine of development.
He cited the rollout of the Ghana Card as a defining achievement, noting that the national identification system was dormant before the NPP took office. “We issued the Ghana Card, and Ghana today is one of the few countries in the world with a digital national ID of this kind,” he stated.
Dr. Bawumia also touted the mobile money interoperability system as a breakthrough that critics initially dismissed as impossible. Before its introduction, users could not transfer money across networks or move funds between bank accounts and mobile wallets.
“I said it was possible for us to do it in Ghana, and we have done it,” he said.
He argued that the system has revolutionised everyday transactions—allowing Ghanaians to pay utility bills, renew health insurance, and receive international transfers with ease. He further claimed Ghana is the only country in Africa offering such a comprehensive digital platform.
According to him, the booming mobile money ecosystem has also become a major source of employment. “When we came, MoMo agents were 107,000. Now they are 900,000. We have created 800,000 jobs for MoMo agents,” he said.
In a direct pitch to voters, Dr. Bawumia urged Ghanaians to judge him not by political rhetoric but by the systems and reforms he championed behind the scenes. He argued that if he could deliver such changes without the full authority of the presidency, he would be able to deliver far more if elected.
“You have seen what I can do as Vice President without the power. If you make me president, I will bring ‘Abrokyire’ to Ghana,” he declared, promising a Ghana with opportunities comparable to those abroad.
Dr. Bawumia’s remarks signal an aggressive push to frame the 2024 contest around innovation, efficiency, and digital governance—an area he believes his record gives him a decisive edge.
