Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia made his quest for the presidential candidature of the New Patriotic Party official this past week.
It marks the official start of the presidential primary campaign and a long road towards Ghana’s presidency. Dr. Bawumia has a storied history in Ghana’s politics. He’s been one of the longest serving candidates on a presidential campaign stump, garnering enormous experience on the trail as Vice presidential candidate since 2008 and culminating in his consequential history defining Vice Presidency from 2016 to 2024.
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H.E Bawumia is a man of deep intellect, exceptional capability, sincere humility, uncommon servitude, genuine warmth and unbounded foresight. It’s easy for some to dismiss these as mere words. But words have meaning. And none of these words are meant to fall on the ground, not even by happenstance. They mean exactly what they stand for.
In an era where some view intellectuals with scorn, sometimes even derision for the mythical and often misconstrued notion of being all theory and no practicals, Dr. Bawumia’s path is not a particularly easy one. All one has to do is throw around labels, innuendos, chants, incantations and hope that hey presto, they may land somewhere, someway, somehow. But the business of governance is more serious than that.
It requires men of sober temperament, measured tone, deep thought, wise judgement, human-centeredness and public spiritedness. It requires not mere populism but sincere empathy and a track record of socially conscious, humane, people-centered policy making that provides widespread (not sectional) long-term jobs, opportunities, hope and a future for all.
Dr. Bawumia has not done it all, but he has at least shown the clearest signs of his potential and capability should he be given the chance. Even if he hasn’t been the best Vice president ever, he has certainly been a unique, active, dynamic, path setting Vice President who made a difference for good not ill; one who has made the position more active, prominent and an instrument for digital transformation.
Even from a global and policy-making standpoint, he’s up there with the best. His experience and intellect will translate into policy which forms the basis for action, practical work and national building. He’s a thinker whose depth, foresight, vision and policy making expertise will change the nation, create not just a better but an enduring and secure Ghana for the present and future generation.
Digitalization is the language of the future and Ghana must not be left out. It will create wide-ranging jobs and enormous economic opportunities far beyond our imagination, far beyond the traditional conventional paradigms and open up markets beyond physical borders.
As he embarks on this journey it is extremely important for the former Vice President to show what he has learned from his time in governance and how he hopes to use those lessons for the better. For instance, he may have over indulged or over reached in his economic postulations during his time in office or on the campaign trail and it’s important for him to acknowledge certain missteps, misjudgments or shortfalls.
It does not–and should not take anything away from him at all. On the contrary it rather will show that he is a true leader capable of admitting faults and working to sharpen rough edges for even greater outcomes. He has always, since his student days, professional days and corporate days been a man of unsparing energy, boundless imagination, tireless workmanship and uncompromisingly results driven.
His competence is not his only strength. One of his greatest strengths is his character. He is gentle, affable, open, welcoming and someone who genuinely cares about the downtrodden, vulnerable and lifting people up.
The Good Book–The Bible–says in James 1:19 that: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”. This is Dr. Bawumia personified, measured in talking, naturally peaceable, tolerant and not given to anger.
The Lord is capable of using anyone at all to bring his purpose to an expected end. The journey has just begun; we can only wait and see what happens. May the will of the Lord be done.
Source: Etse Sikanku
