Dr Alhaj Mahamudu Bawumia
In his interview with African Watch Magazine, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (DMB), the young man who attended Sakasaka primary school in Tamale, indicated his appreciation of the nexus between hard work, God-consciousness, and good luck in a man’s life. He seems to have the sense that putting God first and being persistent propels a man to a destination where good luck finds them.
DMB would attribute the success in his advanced education to the opportunities Ghana offered him in his education post-independence. Like Prime Minister Busia and President Kufour, DMB studied at Oxford, one of the oldest but notable premier universities in the world, as well as some other prominent institutions in the world.
Noted for his knack for excellence, DMB spent nearly two decades abroad to study and prepare himself to give back to Africa his valuable knowledge. Legendary Lucky Dube in his “House of Exile” would have said this about DMB: “All he dreams about is the freedom of the nation. When every man will be equal in the eyes of the law.” Suffice it to say that DMB dreams of economic freedom and prosperity for all. Zimbabwe had a slice of his brilliance when he was noticed by the African Development Bank and subsequently engaged as an economic adviser by then-President Robert Mugabe. The records firmly establish DMB’s positive impact on their economy. Here in Ghana, to mention one: gold for oil. As he humbly pointed out, such a brilliant policy can not be found in any textbook. In appreciating the saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” Dr. Bawumia innovated this brilliant and workable idea that solved a pressing problem that regressed the Ghanaian economy.
After acquiring significant knowledge, DMB traveled back to Ghana and joined the Central Bank of Ghana. There, he was industrious, efficient, daring, and innovative. These astute attributes of him were noticed quickly by President Kufour when he said, “I have always seen him as a man of destiny. I first saw him in London in 2002; he was the research assistant to the governor of the central bank. He delivered an exceptional paper among the giants of London in the financial world. Before then, I had never spoken to him; I sent someone to call, and I told him to carry on because he would go far.” Today, with all that he has accomplished, it is thought that DMB fits neatly into the hallowed phrase, man of destiny.
In 2009, DMB wrote a book outlining the past and future of Africa’s economy. As an accomplished economist and banker, perhaps he will be remembered as one who made more pronounced this insightful fact: “Africa missed the first, second, and third industrial revolutions, but I am determined that our continent will not miss the fourth and fifth.” Adding that, “the piece in the puzzle that will make this a reality is data, driven by highly skilled national tech expertise and private-sector investments. For every dollar invested in data systems, there is an average return of $32. Data is the lifeblood for making decisions and is what will unlock an independent, wealthy future for Africa, making sure that new economic opportunities are shared.”
This reasonably and objectively speaks highly of a man who is better prepared to lead our developing country. Perhaps it was President Kufour who captured it so well when he described him as “custom-made.” However, the Ghanaian people, having appreciated his commitments to this 4th revolution project, would prefer to call him a cutting-edge politician.
In marked contrast, John Mahama, his being a president coupled with the benefits of being exposed to privileged information and opportunities about Ghana, is grappling with the construction of a single reasonable and pragmatic policy tailored to suit the needs of the ordinary Ghanaian. It has been a fake “hope city” (2012), a phantom “big push” (2020), and now a cacophonous “24-hour,” whose meaning Mahama does not know.
Of his formidable intelligence and faced with his honest commitment to give back to the ordinary Ghanaian the same opportunities Ghana has offered him, DMB has clearly and comprehensively outlined his mission in his manifesto. To the youths and women, he offers boundless opportunities. To the public, he will rekindle our confidence in institutions. To the disabled, he intends to advance and change the narrative. To the elderly, he intends to provide dignifying and enduring comfort. Like President Obama would say of Vice President Kamara, “we have a chance to elect someone who has spent her entire life trying to give people the same chances America gave her.”
Written by Shareef Sule.
About The Author
