‘I’ll refocus Ghana’s natural resource management for greater benefit if elected president’ — Bawumia

The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and incumbent Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has promised to refocus Ghana’s paradigm for natural resource management if elected President in 2024 to benefit Ghanaians.

Speaking during his inaugural regional tour of the Eastern Region on Monday, April 29, Dr. Bawumia observed that Ghana has not maximised the benefits from its abundant natural resources over the centuries since the Portuguese discovered gold in the 15th century.

“For the most part, Ghana has not maximised the benefits of our natural resources. Since the days of the Portuguese in the 15th century, gold has always been taken out of Ghana. We haven’t benefitted much from our natural resources; I am going to change that paradigm,” he stated.

Dr. Bawumia said the current framework gives the perception that Ghanaians do not have full ownership of the country’s minerals.

To address this, the NPP flagbearer intends to “bring a bigger focus on ownership of our natural resources.”

The Vice President promised that his government will empower Ghana’s universities and the Geological Survey Department to take the lead in exploring Ghana’s mineral lands.

“Once we explore that we have seven gold belts that we haven’t yet discovered. Once we have explored and we know that the gold is here, the new policy is going be that the ownership of those resources will be one hundred per cent owned by Ghanaians,” Dr. Bawumia noted.

The refocused natural resource management aims to maximize benefits from Ghana’s gold and other resources for development and prosperity of its citizens, according to the NPP flagbearer.