It appears Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who has been described as a convention-defying politician is destined to be the next Ghanaian leader after the 2024 general election as he is fast receiving massive support across the country.
The second gentle of the land has been the toast of governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) faithful, traditional and religious leaders, traders and many well-meaning Ghanaians at all public gatherings with majority declaring him as the next president of Ghana.
He has spearheaded many signature policies of President Nana Akufo-Addo since taking office including the digitalisation agenda in all sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
The recent gold-for-oil policy is seen by many credible policy analysts as another unconventional idea he pulled out of a box to deal with a persistent problem of looking for unavailable foreign currency to import petroleum products into the country.
This unconventional way of solving age-old national problems appears to be paying dividends in many was for Vice President Bawumia as he is highly tipped to win the upcoming NPP presidential primaries and subsequently win the general election.
Enskinment of Yagbonwura
At the enskinment of the new Yagbonwura, Tuluwewura Soale Mbema Borenyi, the King of Gonja Kingdom at Jakpa Palace in Damongo yesterday, enthusiastic NPP supporters and residents of the monarchy all hailed the arrival of the Vice President, chanting “Bawumia winner you go win ooooh, winner”, “Bawumia our next president.”
Incidentally, former President John Dramani Mahama, a native Gonja who is seeking to lead the country again on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), was at the colourful event.
Manhyia embraces Bawumia, Samira at Akwasidae
Last Sunday, massive support for Vice President Bawumia unwittingly turned the Akwasidae in Kumasi into a rally ground as he was mobbed endlessly by participants.
He joined the Asanteman to celebrate the 2023 second Akwasidae festival of the Asantes with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, sitting in state at the Manhyia Palace.
The Vice President was accompanied by his wife, Samira, both of whom were clad in splendid Kente cloth.
His entourage also included over 80 NPP lawmakers, Chief Executive officers of state-owned enterprises, regional and constituencies chairmen of the governing party.
In a massive show of love, the occupant of Silver Stool of Asante, Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II symbolically embraced Vice President Bawumia and his wife Samira at the Akwasidae durbar grounds at the Royal Manhyia Palace.
Apart from the fact that the Otumfuo Osei Tutu himself has not hidden his administration for the Vice President, some of his chiefs’ endorsement of the Vice President has been used to suggest they have all admired the Economist who the King has adopted as his son.
Analysts have said the strategic embrace of Bawumia, the first of its kind, which has since gone viral on social media indicates acceptance of the candidature of Vice President Bawumia by the top Ashanti traditional ruler.
The Mamponghene previously praised the vision and enterprise of the Vice President suggesting the NPP flagbearer hopeful has strong support inside Manhyia.
Endorsement by traders
Traders occupying the various stalls at the ultra-modern Kejetia market also hailed Vice President Bawumia, declaring him as the next leader of Ghana after 2024 general election.
The market queen of yam sellers made this declaration when Vice President Bawumia visited the market on Monday, to have first-hand knowledge of the unfortunate fire outbreak in the market.
In his address, Dr. Bawumia assured the traders at the Kejetia Market the place will be open to business on March 21, 2023, which counters earlier announcement by managers of the facility of an extension to the closure.
The Vice President said it was important that life was brought back to the market through trading activities.
“I know what worries you (traders is the lack of work), the closure of the market is really a source of worry. The fire service say they know what happened, it’s not electrical fault, they have examined all, tomorrow the market will be opened so business can go on”, Dr. Bawumia assured the traders.
The traders indicated that the announcement came as a big relief to them after authorities closed down the facility to allow for investigations into the cause of last week’s fire.
Vice President Bawumia’s assurance came on the heel of traders’ insistence the place had to be opened for business so that the affected shops are dealt with in an isolated case.
The intervention was described as timely it brought a sigh of relief to the traders who disclosed that they were gradually being pushed out of business as a result of the closure.
Vice President Bawumia also assured users of the facility that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was willing to come to the aid of the traders to make life much easier for them.
Government, he further pledged, will support the affected market women with some funds in order to get back to business.
This was after he toured the Kejetia Market facility to ascertain the extent of damage and sympathize with traders.
He urged the traders to be vigilant in the market to avert future occurrences as the fire was started by a trader cooking so close to combustible materials.
“We have visited the spot of the fires and 33 shops were gutted. I have asked for a reason. I have been told investigations so far have suggested someone was cooking in his shop with gas. That is where the fire started.
“Other shops close by also sell turpentine, gunpowder and other combustible that resulted in explosions in the market”, Vice President Bawumia pointed out.
