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Create new jobs rather than dismissing innocent workers – Bawumia to Mahama
Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the last elections and former Vice President, Dr.Mahamadu Bawumia has expressed disappointment over what he describes as worrying development in the country.
In a statement yesterday, Dr.Bawumia criticised the revocation of employment among others supervised by President John Dramani Mahama.
“There is no reset by repeating or escalating what may have happened in the past,” Dr Bawumia added.
Read full statement below
WORRYING DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR COUNTRY: AN APPEAL TO H.E. PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA – DR BAWUMIA WRITES
This statement is released against a personal vow I made since leaving office. I made a personal affirmation to allow our new President and his government to get the needed space to get a hold of things and settle down quickly to tackle the important business of governance, and by extension nation building. Having been Vice President for the past eight years, I have come to appreciate the enormity of the task; a task that requires that those entrusted with the responsibility of governance, especially the President, get the needed support and composure to implement their vision for the betterment of our dear country.
Unfortunately, I need to speak up on recent developments that pose significant threats to our democracy. To look away whilst these ills persist is to abandon my responsibility to remind President Mahama and his government of the overriding duty to live by the democratic tenets envisioned in the 1992 Constitution and do justice and “right to all manner of persons”. When Ghanaians voted for change in the 2024 general elections, it manifested the desire to continue with national development, albeit with different people at the helm of affairs. It was within this spirit that I gave an early concession speech, urging all Ghanaians to support our new president as he attempts to make his contribution to the cumulative progress successive governments have chalked over the years.
Since the assuming office, however, the government of President Mahama has pursued a series of actions targeting Ghanaians who were legitimately employed during the previous administration. It is ironic that a party which campaigned on the wings of jobs for all Ghanaians is arbitrarily dismissing the same Ghanaians, rendering them jobless, just because a different government employed them to put their talents to bear on the nation’s development and earn income to cater for themselves and their families.
The least a party that campaigned on jobs could do under conditions of unemployment is to also innovate and create jobs rather than dismiss people.
Regrettably, these dismissals have been extended to directors who are public servants and not politicians. In some of the cases, the only reason for dismissal was that the persons whose livelihoods have been destroyed are known to or related to politicians as if to suggest that they cannot live independent professional lives, however qualified they are. There are also reports of government’s intention to terminate the appointments of persons performing critical jobs such security personnel, nurses, and teachers simply because they were appointed during the tenure of the previous administration. That will be most unfortunate.
Furthermore, there is a general atmosphere of insecurity with attacks on journalists, the use of our military to raid the homes of former government officials and communities, as well as mobs attacking innocent individuals and state institutions. This is rather reminiscent of a military takeover and not a peaceful democratic transition. These are certainly worrying times for our democracy, and the earlier action is taken to protect institutions and democratic practice, the better it would be for Ghana’s forward match.
Ghanaians understood the promise of change to mean discarding the ills associated with the governance of our nation since 1992 and also an opportunity to show the way for future governments. There is no reset by repeating or escalating what may have happened in the past. Therefore, I call on His Excellency President Mahama to be a president for all Ghanaians by putting a stop to these developments, reversing the unfair dismissals, and protecting all our citizens.
We must advance our democracy.
We must protect our state institutions.
We must uphold our Constitution.
Ghana can do better. Ghana must do better!
Thank you
News
IBEC-2025: RMU Ag. VC calls for innovative, inclusive strategies to accelerate Blue Economy growth
The Acting Vice Chancellor of the Regional Maritime University (RMU), Dr. Jethro W. Brooks Jr., has called for broader engagement among stakeholders within the sub-region to fully harness the potential of the blue economy.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the second International Blue Economy Conference (IBEC-2025) currently underway in the Republic of The Gambia, he emphasised the need for industry players to be innovative and collaborate effectively to capitalise on opportunities within the ocean.
The three-day conference, which began on Wednesday, February 19, and is scheduled to conclude today, Friday, February 21, has brought together over 200 international stakeholders to exchange ideas on promoting the blue economy and fostering development across the continent by tapping into industry prospects.
The conference is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure of The Gambia, in collaboration with RMU in Accra and the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI) in Tanzania.
Under the theme “Harnessing the Blue Economy: Leveraging for Innovative and Sustainable Development,” the conference has attracted high-profile delegates from the host country, The Gambia, as well as participants from Tanzania, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana and other nations.
Among the dignitaries present were the Vice President of The Gambia, Muhammad B.S. Jallow, who officially opened the three-day event, the Gambian Minister for Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ebrima Sillah, as well as several other Ministers of State.
In his remarks, the Ag. Vice Chancellor of RMU, Dr. Brooks Jr., stated that the blue economy focuses on leveraging oceanic resources to drive economic development while maintaining environmental sustainability.
“Our vision to utilise ocean resources for economic development in the sub-region can only be realized through innovation, collaboration and a commitment to sustainability,” he said.
While emphasising the importance of development through the blue economy, he also stressed the need for environmental sustainability.
“We must ensure that our development does not come at the expense of the environment. Therefore, we need to engage in practices that protect our water bodies, climate and the entire environment for future generations,” he added.
Dr. Brooks highlighted the critical role that RMU and other educational institutions must play in research and training for a sustainable future.
He also emphasised the importance of leveraging technology and innovation while prioritising the wellbeing of the ocean.
“A strong blue economy must ensure conservation, equity and inclusivity. It is vital to adopt a long-term approach that ensures the blue economy we develop today leaves a lasting legacy for tomorrow,” he stated.
“Let us come together to harness the potential of the blue economy for the benefit of the ocean, the people, and the climate,” he urged.
Dr. Brooks commended the organisers and sponsors for their efforts and expressed optimism for a brighter future with a focus on the blue economy.
Key presentations at the conference included topics such as the Blue Justice Approach to Blue Economy Policy Development and Implementation to Safeguard Small-Scale Fishers in Africa, Digital Transformation of the Blue Economy, Food Safety Concerns: A Priority in the Blue Economy, Aquaculture Innovation: Sustainable Practices for the Future of Seafood and Livelihoods, and Ocean Governance: Policy for Sustainable Blue Economy Development.
Additional topics included Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: Legal Instruments of Climate Change on Marine Environments and Coastal Communities, Ensuring Marine Safety and Security, and Sustainable Fisheries Management.
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Ghana is safe; President satisfied with plans to roll out 24-hour economy
The Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu has briefed the country of the outcome of President John Dramani Mahama’s first Cabinet Meeting.
“Ghana is Safe. The President has been fully briefed on the state of the economy and is satisfied with policy proposals to address the challenges. He has also been appraised on work done so far to roll out the 24-hour economy policy”, Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu has revealed during the briefing.
Addressing the presidential press corps after the cabinet’s first meeting on Thursday, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said President John Mahama would appraise Ghanaians on the true state of the economy, which is worse than anticipated, when he presents the State of the Nation Address to Parliament next week.
According to the Minister, the cabinet was briefed on plans to “fully roll out President Mahama’s foremost policy towards transforming Ghana: the 24-hour economy.”
Minister for Finance, Dr Ato Forson, also told the cabinet that the economic situation is dire “and the numbers are even worse than we had known before the elections”, Mr Kwakye Ofosu emphasised.
He announced that more details on the economy and policies to reset will be discussed at the National Economic Dialogue slated for the 3rd and 4th of March 2025.
Various experts and stakeholders drawn from academia, civil society organisations, public servants, and other interested parties will discuss the economy and make recommendations that will be factored into the 2025 budget statement, which will be presented to Parliament on March 11
