Politics

Ghana: Vice President Bawumia becomes ruling party’s candidate for 2024 elections

Published

1 year ago

November 5, 2023

Ghana’s Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia, has emerged as the presidential candidate of the ruling party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), at next year’s presidential elections.

After taking first place in the first stage of the primary in August, the 60-year-old economist and former central banker, who has served as second-in-command, won 61% of the votes cast in the second stage of the primary.

He hopes to succeed President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, who is scheduled to leave office in January 2025 after serving the eight years required by the constitution. Bawumia, in his acceptance speech, promised to rebuild the crisis-hit economy if elected president.

“I want to lead a nation that improves and unleashes the talents of our youth and offers good jobs with good pay and sustainable growth with macroeconomic discipline,” he said.

No party has ever won more than two consecutive terms in the presidency of Ghana, even though the ruling parties are frequently regarded as favourites. Bawumia’s record may also come under scrutiny from voters as the West African nation battles to recover from the worst economic crisis in a generation.

If Bawumia emerges as president in the election, Ghanaians will hope that his financial background can influence economic recovery in the country. But that has not counted for much while being vice president. A researcher at Ghana’s Institute for Fiscal Studies, Said Boakye, noted, “One would have thought that with Bawumia as vice president—especially since he leads the economic management team—the economy would be doing well, but not much has been accomplished.”

Bawumia’s emergence coincides with the NPP’s advocacy for increased diversity. He is not only the first non-member of the dominant Akan-speaking ethnic group to lead the NPP, but also the first Muslim leader of a major party in Ghana since 1992.

Related Topics:Featured Ghana Mahamudu Bawumia

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.