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Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
Ghanaian statesman Isaac Osei has implored delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region to vote massively for Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia in the governing party’s upcoming presidential primaries slated for November 4, 2023.
He described the Vice-President as extremely humble, intelligent, an astute economist, and one who respects the views of others. He also referred to the Veep’s deliberate efforts in his campaign to avoid insults, and instead focus on discussing matters of national importance.
“I recall that not so long ago while I was home, I got notified that the Vice-President would like to see me. I decided to prepare and dress up so I could set off to see him wherever he may be. As I made my way down from upstairs in my home, to my pleasant surprise, there sat the Vice-President right in my living room,” he said.
“This humility is one of a kind, and the NPP needs a humble man for the fight ahead of her,” he noted.
Mr Osei, a former Member of Parliament for the Subin constituency, who also served as chief executive officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and one time Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, made the call at the ongoing Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s two-week tour of the Ashanti Region to engage party delegates.
Speaking on Dr. Bawumia’s expertise in the field of economics, the statesman said that, as an economist himself, he can categorically claim that Dr. Bawumia “is the economist of economists”.
“I can tell you on authority that the Vice-President is a highly qualified economist, and he is an extremely brilliant one at that; he is as sharp as fire, ” the former Ambassador said.
“He has in his campaign identified himself with all the good things that the Akufo-Addo government has achieved, and has also accepted the administration’s shortcomings, unlike others who were in government but have decided to disassociate themselves with the record of the current administration in public,” he added.
Mr Osei stressed, “I urge you to consider all that I have told you about the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and vote massively for him.”
Discovered seed
Taking his turn, Dr. Bawumia likened himself to a viable seed that was discovered and planted by former President John Agyekum Kufuor because of its potential to blossom.
He acknowledged the invaluable guidance and direction of the former President, and further disclosed how he was discovered, given critical roles under the erstwhile Kufuor administration, and subsequently become running mate in 2008.
“There was a time the Financial Times organised a forum on Ghana’s economy during President Kufuor’s era. Present at the occasion were Osafo-Maafo, Dr. Paul Aquah, myself and other key dignitaries from Ghana, including the then President. While the forum was going on, I sensed some things were not put right about the economy of Ghana, so I asked to be allowed to speak, and thankfully my request was granted,” he recalled.
“When I finished speaking, the whole atmosphere in the room had changed. People then understood what the economic policy of the Kufuor government was. In short, while we went for a coffee break, President Kufuor asked for me. When I went, he said ‘young man, you have done well, keep it up, you will go far’,” he added.
“Just the same week after we returned to Ghana, President Kufuor appointed me to the board of Ghana Telecom,” Dr. Bawumia revealed.
Dr. Bawumia served as the co-Chair of the Economic Policy Coordinating Committee under President Kufuor.