President John Mahama who made the call at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2025 in Accra said the industrialisation drive could be achieved by governments through special economic zones that encourage manufacturing and innovation.

He said such partnerships would not only help provide access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises which are the backbone of economies but also provide investments in technical and vocational education to equip the youth with the skills needed for industries for the future.

He said, “We must invest in infrastructure to facilitate trade, efficient roads, rail networks, ports, and digital connectivity.

“We must strengthen African supply chains to ensure that our industries produce goods and services that meet both regional and global standards,” he said.

The President also highlighted the need for African countries to harmonize their trade policies to eliminate non-tariff barriers and reduce the cost of doing business across borders while working swiftly to operationalise the Pan-African payment and settlement system to facilitate the payment of goods and services across the continent.

According to the President, a commitment to these actions would help unlock a $3.4 trillion market, that will help create jobs and prosperity for millions of Africans across the continent.

“We must move beyond being exporters of raw material to become producers of finished goods, whether it is cocoa in Ghana, oil in Nigeria, puppies in Zambia, or diamonds in Botswana, we must process and add value to our natural resources,” he stated.

The President explained that by partnering with the private sector, African economies will not only increase their share of global trade but also create sustainable jobs for people, especially young people.

He also called on African leaders to indigenize ownership of their natural resources with the availability of capital and technology to increase participation in the exploitation of their natural resources.

Speaking from his residence on Sunday, December 8, 2024, Dr Bawumia stated:  “Following yesterday’s presidential and parliamentary elections, Ghanaians at home and abroad have been sitting on tenterhooks awaiting the outcome. Let me say that the data from our own internal collation of the election results indicate that former President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has won the Presidential election decisively.”

Flanked by NPP bigwigs including the National Chairman, Stephen Ayesu Ntim and his spouse, Samira Bawumia, Dr Bawumia disclosed that he had personally called Mr Mahama to congratulate him on his victory.

“I have just called His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to congratulate him as President-elect of the Republic of Ghana. I said during the signing of the peace pact that I was sure of two things: Ghana will win, and peace will reign.”

Dr Bawumia emphasised that his decision to concede was driven by the need to reduce tension and preserve the peace of the nation.

“The people of Ghana have spoken. The people have voted for change at this time, and we respect that decision with all humility. I am making this concession speech before the official announcement by the Electoral Commission to avoid further tension and preserve the peace of our country.”

“As committed democrats, we pledge to ensure that we have a very smooth transition so that the business of government will continue seamlessly. The NPP will offer the needed support to the new government in a very responsible way.”

Acknowledging the disappointment within his party’s ranks, Dr Bawumia urged supporters to remain optimistic.

“To the rank and file of the New Patriotic Party, I know the feeling hurts, given that this is not the result you worked for. But I assure you that we will regroup and come back even stronger. We may have lost the battle, but not the war.”

Dr Bawumia expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, his wife Samira Bawumia, his running mate Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and the entire NPP for their unwavering support throughout his campaign. He also extended thanks to traditional rulers, religious leaders, the Electoral Commission, security agencies, the media, and Ghanaians for their roles in the electoral process.

Concluding his address, he remarked: “Ghana is more important than our individual political ambitions, and we must always put Ghana first. Ghana has won. Thank you very much, and may God bless you and God bless our homeland, Ghana.”

Dr Bawumia’s concession paves the way for a peaceful transition as Ghanaians prepare for the swearing in of President-elect John Dramani Mahama.

The Electoral Commission of Ghana is yet to declare the final official results.

Source: Daily Graphic

The Former President argued that the intervention by the National Security Secretariat, leading to the detention of the party’s Parliamentary Candidate for the Awutu Senya East Constituency represents a misuse of police power.

Read full statement below:

Below is the full post on Facebook by John Mahama

There is no justification for the decision by the Inspector General of Police George Dampare, on the orders of the National Security Advisor, Albert Kan Dapaah, to detain a Parliamentary Candidate for the Awutu Senya East Constituency in Police custody.

This action, taken on the instructions of the National Security Secretariat, will needlessly raise the political temperature in the country and spark avoidable tension. The Police Service and the IGP must not allow themselves to be used to hang the peace and stability of our nation months before crucial national elections.

I call on the IGP, the Peace Council, the government, and the people of Ghana to recognise that justice is not just a moral imperative but a crucial prerequisite for maintaining peace and stability in a nation. We cannot allow the police service to be used to stifle opposition and intimidate innocent Ghanaians and political opponents in the run-up to the 2024 elections.

Clearly, the intention to detain her after she had already been granted bail is an attempt to intimidate the NDC Parliamentary candidate in her quest to unseat the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hawa Koomson, in the Awutu Senya East Constituency.

I urge the IGP to urgently reconsider his actions and release Naa Koryoo immediately for the sake of justice and the stability of our nation.

It is high time the police fulfilled their duty to serve and protect all citizens, irrespective of their

political affiliations. #JusticeForNaaKoryoo #FreeNaaKoryooNow

Source: Mymctvonline.com || Agyenim Boateng