The Vice President and presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed that, if elected as President in the forthcoming general elections, his objective is to enhance the quality of life for the citizens.
He noted that he has developed various policies and initiatives designed to make essential services more accessible to Ghanaians, akin to those available in developed nations.
This statement was made during his campaign tour in the Ho Municipality within the Volta Region. Dr. Bawumia emphasized that the current government, under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, has established a robust foundation for the digitization of the nation’s economy, which he considers vital for Ghana’s advancement in the 21st century.
He elaborated that a significant policy intended to elevate the living standards of Ghanaians to match those in developed countries is the implementation of a Credit Score System.
Additionally, he mentioned that the introduction of the Ghana Card, the Digital Property Address System, and Mobile Money Interoperability are essential elements for the successful rollout of the Credit Score System, enabling Ghanaians to acquire goods and services on credit and make payments in manageable installments.
For the last two years, we have been working on putting together the credit score system for Ghana. My thinking was that next year we will finish. But by the grace of God, I am happy to say we have completed the work for the credit system to start. It is possible.
By the grace of God on the 7th of November I will launch Ghana’s credit scoring system.
Dr. Bawumia stated that his administration intends to position Ghana as the second nation in Africa to implement a highly efficient credit scoring system.
And it is going to be the second country I believe in Africa to have a very effective credit scoring system. And that is going to make Ghana a very different country.
Dr. Bawumia emphasized his commitment to lowering electricity costs by utilizing solar energy to enhance the nation’s power generation capabilities.
He indicated plans to establish a manufacturing facility in Ghana for the production of solar panels, which would not only support the initiative but also generate employment opportunities and strengthen the industrial sector of the country.
Additionally, Dr. Bawumia promoted his initiative, the Women Trade Empowerment Fund, as an effective solution to provide women traders with accessible loans, enabling them to grow their businesses and enterprises.
If you want to give them [female traders] loans and you ask them to go to the banks, they are going to be very intimidated because the banks are going to ask for a lot of documentation that they do not have. So, when it comes to informal women’s trading, we are rather setting up the Women Trade Empowerment Fund, the only requirement to obtain your loan will be your Ghana Card.
He further stated that the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) model would be extended to the agricultural sector, where farm machinery would be made available in each District for the benefit of local farmers through the District Agricultural Mechanisation System.
Dr. Bawumia also discussed an extensive irrigation initiative aimed at improving crop yields nationwide, detailing plans to mechanize the Volta River for the purpose of irrigating farms within its vicinity.
He reiterated his commitment to propose an amendment to Section 63 of the Chieftaincy Act, which would empower Chiefs to resolve specific matters at the local level rather than referring them to the courts.
Additionally, he pledged to provide living allowances to Queen Mothers, Divisional Chiefs, and Paramount Chiefs to improve their quality of life.
Dr. Bawumia thus urged the Chiefs and residents of the Ho Central Constituency to grant him the authority to implement his policies and programs, with the goal of elevating Ghana to the status of a developed nation.
