Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has committed to ensuring 100% Ghanaian ownership of the country's mineral resources if he is elected as President. This statement came during a breakfast meeting with religious leaders in the Eastern Region, part of his extensive nationwide campaign tour.
Highlighting a major shift in policy, Dr. Bawumia criticized the historical management of Ghana's natural resources, noting the longstanding issue of significant mineral wealth, particularly gold, being exploited without substantial local benefit since as far back as the 15th century. “For the most part, Ghana has not maximised the benefits of our natural resources,” Dr. Bawumia remarked, indicating a push towards transformative changes in how these resources are managed and owned.
Dr. Bawumia outlined his strategy for a paradigm shift focusing on empowering local entities such as universities and the Geological Service Department to lead exploration efforts. He emphasized that discovered resources under this new policy would be wholly owned by Ghanaians, stating, “Once we have explored and we know that the gold is here, the new policy is going be that the ownership of those resources will be one hundred per cent owned by Ghanaians.”
The NPP flagbearer's campaign, themed “Bold Solutions for Our Future,” is structured around three key pillars: The Battle of Ideas and Character, The Battle of Records, and The Battle of Effective Campaign. Dr. Bawumia plans to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including traditional rulers, clergy, youth groups, traders, drivers, farmers, students, and businesses across all 275 constituencies and 16 regions until the first week of June.
His approach focuses on an issue-based campaign, addressing practical and specific concerns pertinent to the Ghanaian populace. This includes visiting markets and other public venues to directly engage with traders and consumers, conducting town hall meetings, and continuing regular stakeholder engagements through various forms of media.
Since being elected as the NPP flagbearer on November 4, 2023, Dr. Bawumia has been actively consulting and interacting with various groups across the country, reinforcing his dedication to understanding and responding to the diverse needs and issues facing Ghanaians today.
