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The Bawumia Win & A Moment of National Inspiration
Dr. Etse Sikanku writes
Barack Obama’s nomination as the first black nominee of a major party and subsequently, first African American president of the nation was a moment of national and historical significance.
Bawumia’s election as the standard bearer of the NPP may not have the same magnitude or racial connotations but from an ethnic or tribal and religious point of view it does hold similar sway.
From a symbolic perspective, there are many young people of northern extract; many young Muslims who will look at the image of their kinsman clinching the nomination and know that they too can dream big, aspire to the highest levels, and achieve the seemingly improbable.
Bawumia’s victory is therefore a moment of national inspiration. This is especially so for the youth, Muslims and particularly compatriots from the northern part of Ghana.
Looking at the context within which this has taken place, especially the conversations surrounding the divides and marginalization of the northern sector, we must not lose sight or underestimate this development.
What has happened may have been an NPP affair, but it is indeed a huge advertisement for democracy, identity politics, representation, seats at the table and participatory politics in Ghana and Africa at large.
There are many youth from Walewale, Bimbilla, Kumbungu, Navrongo, Gushegu, Gberi, Peteyiri, Zabzugu and many other towns and villages who will look at that image of Bawumia being coronated as leader of his party and know that they too can achieve whatever they set their minds too even at the highest levels.
The idea that in the Ghana of today, anyone irrespective of tribe, ethnicity, religion, creed or region can aspire to become presidential candidate, flagbearer, national leader or whatever they wish to be is a huge testament to how far we have come as a nation.
Certainly this will not automatically wish all the problems away but at the most basic level, stripped of all the political shenanigans, the optics have enormous implications for emboldening a culture of aspiration, inspiration, and grandiloquent dreams. Many young people across the nation—especially of northern extraction—will look at this and believe that their dreams too are valid.
Beyond that, as a nation, it also signifies huge strides in our democratic journey as we seek to entrench the enduring virtues of diversity, tolerance, and merit. And our republic will be all the better for it.
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
