‘I am ready to serve’ — Vice President assures

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed his profound appreciation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for choosing him for the fourth time as his running mate for the forthcoming December election, saying he is ready and prepared to serve.

He said his nomination was historic because it had never happened in the history of the country that a presidential candidate would select the same running mate four times in a roll.

Dr Bawumia said this at an extraordinary meeting of the national council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) held in Accra last Saturday, when he accepted to be the running mate of President Akufo-Addo.

He said he was thankful that he would partner President Nana Akufo-Addo, who he described as a strong, decisive, incorruptible and competent President, to work with.

“I am ready and prepared to serve. I say to President Akufo-Addo, the NPP and Ghanaians that I am reporting for duty as running mate,” he stated but said: “It is important to note that my job as running mate is to support the President in implementing his vision, but the best running mate in the world would not make a difference if the President is indecisive or incompetent.”

Dr Bawumia said he was selected by President Akufo-Addo as his running mate in 2008 against all odds. He again selected him in 2012, 2016 and now in 2020.

Describing his boss as a strong, caring, God-fearing, trustworthy and a consistent leader, the Vice-President promised never to take the trust and loyalty reposed in him for granted.

He gave an assurance that he would continue to do everything in his capacity to support President Akufo-Addo in the execution of his mandate saying “its been a privilege and an honour working for you and I thank you for giving me the opportunity.”

Tradition

Also, as a show of respect to the founding fathers of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition, Dr Bawumia professed that as a believer and practitioner of the liberal democratic values espoused by the principles of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition, he had been inspired throughout his life by the thinking, deeds, sacrifices and accomplishments of such great political icons of the country and the party.

“It is our collective responsibility as members of the great NPP family and as Ghanaians to ensure that the sacrifices of these great men and women have not been in vain,” he said.

Policies

While criticising the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for being clueless in the management of the economy during its tenure, Dr Bawumia said the NPP, under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, had not only delivered but had performed much better on at least 78 per cent of the promises it made to the people and across the spectrum of economic and social policies.

“They say we have short memories but I don’t think you can say that about the elephant. We recall that after eight years in office, the results of their economic mismanagement was declining growth, high and constantly rising inflation, rapidly depreciating currency, loss of business confidence, high unemployment rate, unregulated financial services sector, a collapsing NHIS, no ambulance system to speak about, ,,,” he listed and mentioned that “notwithstanding this abysmal performance in office, they are still trying to make a come back to give us an additional dose of their incompetence.”

Digitisation

On the rationale for the rigorous pursuit of digitisation, Dr Bawumia said: “We have made it easier through digitisation to apply for a passport, drivers licence and to obtain quickly your pension when you retire.”

He catalogued a number of services, which had all been digitised such as mobile money interoperability and the renewal of NHIS membership and said: “We have reduced the corruption associated with obtaining services from the public service through digitisation.”