Vice President and flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has reaffirmed his commitment to ensure a deeper partnership between the state and Church as well as other Faith-Based Organisation (FBOs) to accelerate the development of the country when he is elected as Ghana’s president.
Acknowledging the essential role of churches and FBOs in strengthening social cohesion, the NPP flagbearer for the 2024 general election said the partnership is akin to the ties Ghana has with its international partners, which will enhance mutual benefit of the government and religious institutions in the country.
Dr. Bawumia made the pledge during a meeting with members of the clergy in the North East Region as part of his nationwide campaign tour.
“I also want to have a golden age of relationship between government and the Church and Faith-Based Organisations.
“The church is the foremost development partner of the government. Why do I say so? Look at the number of schools the churches have built. Look at the number of hospitals the churches have built. Look at the number of universities the churches have built and faith-based organisations have built. Look at the number of people the churches and faith-based organizations take care of on a daily basis.
“Can you imagine, just take a thought for a moment that you wake up tomorrow and all the schools, universities, and hospitals the churches have built disappear? They just disappear. How would Ghana be like? Ghana will collapse. Isn’t it? We will not survive in this sort of situation because there will be chaos?”, the NPP flagbearer quizzed rhetorically in acknowledging the importance of the Church and the FBOs.
No taxes
Dr. Bawumia also took the opportunity to clarify an earlier statement regarding incentivising churches and the FBOs instead of imposing taxes on them.
Whiles campaigning in the Bono East Region, the Vice President indicated that there will not be imposition of taxes on the Church and the FBOs under his presidency.
However, the promise was misunderstood by some Ghanaians, eliciting some unscrupulous remarks mostly on social media.
Dr. Bawumia reiterated his earlier promise, arguing it is the logical thing to do to stimulate growth and the development of the country.
“I made that statement within the context of acknowledging the significant contributions of churches and other faith-based institutions to the country, including the construction of schools, hospitals, and other vital infrastructure.
“Unless you don’t understand the work the church has done. If you are looking at the buildings, the way they keep the society together, the universities, the hospitals, the schools, it is massive. It is just massive. Many churches have hundreds of schools. So I don’t see and I will not have a situation where we are taxing churches,” Dr. Bawumia reassured the Churches and FBOs.
Bold solutions
Vice President Bawumia commenced his 2024 campaign with ‘Bold Solutions for our future’ as his theme for the tour.
He is focusing on three key pillars namely; the battle of ideas and character, the battle of records and the battle of effective campaign.
The NPP flagbearer and his campaign team are focusing on issue-based electioneering, tackling cogent, practical, and tailor-made ideas to deal with issues that are dear to the Ghanaian people.
Dr. Bawumia is meeting a wide range of stakeholders including traditional rulers, the Clergy, youth groups, traders, drivers, farmers, students and also interact with business owners and associations.
