Bawumia’s election as NPP flagbearer strategic – Abu Jinapor explains

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has labelled the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as a game-changer whose record speaks for itself.

Speaking on Starr Chat with Bolay Ray, the Minister touted Dr. Bawumia as a candidate of ideas, applauding his initiative leading to the implementation of a paperless port system and drone service delivery as part of a broad digitalization agenda.

“The NPP has been very strategic in electing him as the flagbearer of the party. He brings something considerable to the table. He has shown and demonstrated that as vice-president, he is capable,” Mr. Jinapor said to Bola Ray.

During the interview, the minister conceded that governments the world over have had to deal with some amount of unpopularity, adding that the acrimony citizens developed for government officials over time was “fair game”.

Reflecting on President Akufo-Addo’s seven and a half years in office, Mr. Jinapor was convinced that the president had run the country excellently.

He tied the difficulties Ghanaians were going through to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War which has had global consequences.

The Lands Minister stated that the 2024 presidential election was going to come down to two critical issues; record and choice.

Dr. Bawumia was riding on a stellar record in office as Vice President, he suggested.

Contrasting the vice-president against former President John Mahama, he explained that Dr. Bawumia was going to continue an enhanced Free SHS program and also to introduce a tax amnesty plan to give all Ghanaian taxpayers a fresh start.

When asked why Dr. Bawumia could not implement these promises while he was still in government, Mr. Jinapor said the veep did not have the mandate.