Bawumia Will Lead in His Own Style

Bawumia is a paradiagm shift in Ghana's politics. His style of addressing issues as the vice-presidential candidate for the NPP from 2008 to 2016 has introduced political lectures in Ghana. Today, politicians hold lectures to explain issues to the Ghanaian voters. Presentations at political conferences have been the phenomenon at this age and journey of our democracy. The Bawumia style has taken over the political space. Dr. Bawumia has elevated the Vice President position to a very high level in his own style. There is no doubt that when he becomes the president of the Republic of Ghana, he will govern the country in an unprecedented style. His style will be a departure from the governing style of Rawlings, Kuffour, Mills, Mahama, and, of course, Nana Addo. Bawumia has his own vision for Ghana’s new chapter, and he will govern Ghana in his own style to everyone's admiration. It is possible with Dr. Bawumia as the President of Ghana.

In the heat of the 2008 campaign, late President Mills vowed to never move from the Christianburg Castle to the Jubilee House built by former President Kuffour. The NDC campaigned against the Kuffour-led NPP government as insensitive for building such a massive presidential 'palace' whilst the ordinary Ghanaian was suffering. True to his word, late President Mills refused to move into the commissioned presidential palace when he became the president. His NDC government defended the decision, including his vice president, John Dramani Mahama.

After Mills died in 2012, the then Vice President Mahama was immediately sworn in as the president. One of the very first decisions Mahama took as the president and commander in chief was to order the government to move into the Jubilee House, the very presidential palace his late boss and the whole NDC government had refused to occupy. This showed that Mahama was different from the late president, his boss.

Ghanaians witnessed a Mahama-led NDC government quite different from the Mills-led NDC government. Power shifted within the same government. New things came up, and many new faces in the party were introduced; some old and familiar faces were relegated to the background.

If Mahama who was virtually continuing Mills' term in office and the NDC's reign governed differently, why can’t Bawumia govern equally different from Nana Addo? After he finishes his full two-term presidency in January 2025, Nana Addo will be ineligible to lead the country again per Ghana’s constitution. Ghanaians are not new to vice presidents leading the country differently than their bosses. The late Mills, who was Rawlings' vice president ruled differently from his boss, Rawlings. Mahama governed differently from Mills, and Bawumia will certainly not follow Nana Addo’s path.

Bawumia has his own vision for Ghana. As a commander in chief, he will no longer answer to anyone and will command his own appointees to fully implement his economic emancipation programs through the digital economic foundation being laid now. The NPP party ideology remains unchanged, but the path would certainly be different to achieve similar campaign promises, and history has served Ghana well in this context. Former president Kuffour approached the industrialization philosophy through his Presidential Special Initiative program (PSI). The NPP, led by Nana Addo, won power back after 8 years and pursued the industrialization philosophy again, but this time through initiatives such as the One District One Factory program (1D1F). Interestingly, the same trade minister, Mr. Alan Kyeremanteng led both the PSI and the 1D1F programs in two different governments at different times on different paths. Again, the President Kuffour-led NPP government embarked on one model of high school in each district, but the Nana Addo-led NPP is introducing STEM schools across the country.

The NPP has always pursued similar programs with the same philosophy in different times led by different leaders with different styles. The leader’s vision usually determined the path taken and the personalities who formed the government. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has his vision, and he will take a different path to pursue development in freedom for Ghana.

Eben Johnson - Finland
(Letters Without Signature)