Bawumia: I believe In women Empowerment …a female running mate in the offing?

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has acknowledged that women cannot be relegated to the background in Ghana’s quest to embrace the 4th Industrial revolution.

According to Dr. Bawumia, who is the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), women, beyond driving innovation, are also reshaping the core fabric of business globally.

He was speaking at the Female CEOs Summit in Accra on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 where he said that women are “naturally talented and enterprising” and play “indispensable roles” in national development, adding that empowering them will have a significant impact on the development of the country in many areas.

“Women CEOs are not only driving innovation, but also reshaping the very fabric of business in Ghana and beyond. As we stand at the precipice of a digital renaissance, it is imperative that we harness the collective power and ingenuity of female leaders to propel our nation forward,” he said.

ADVOCACY

The flag bearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party, who is yet to choose his running mate, further  acknowledged the role of women and advocated their empowerment and inclusion.

According to him, there should be effective policies to ensure adequate women’s inclusion to harness their talents, particularly as Ghana embraces the 4th Industrial revolution.

“The contribution of women in our national development, across all sectors, is massive. We have to include them more and Ghana will be the beneficiary as a country,” Dr. Bawumia said.

RUNNING MATE

Political analysts and observers are waiting with bated breath on the choice of running mate for the NPP presidential candidate, Dr. Bawumia.

The two-term vice president had beseeched the party’s hierarchy and pleaded for ample time to consult broadly before settling on a choice.

The flagbearer of the NPP, who is a northerner and a moslem is facing undue pressure from lobbyists who will not sleep until their favourites are chosen.

THE CHOICE

In arriving at his decision of selecting a running mate, Dr. Bawumia is expected to consider all the geo-politics surrounding such a critical choice.

He is to consider religion, region and other key factors, the latest being the gender of the potential choice as running mate.

The list of persons under consideration includes the Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and the Minister for Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, both of whom hail from the Ashanti region.

Others are the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey, who is a Ga and a woman, and the Chief of Staff, Fremah Osei-Opare, also from the Ashanti region and a woman.

It must be emphasised that all these names making the rounds are Christians, ticking the box of a different religion as a partner to Dr. Bawumia, a Moslem.

Also, all these names hail from different regions from that of the decision-maker, Dr. Bawumia, meaning on the card of regional balance, any of them may fit.

It is not known whether the NPP and its presidential candidate will follow the steps of its main contender, the National Democratic Congress, and also choose a female as a running mate.

EVENT

It is also not known whether the statements and advocacy the Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, made about women at the event he attended on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 are hints of the gender of his potential choice.

Since the call on him to appoint a female as his running mate, Dr. Bawumia has kept his silence, not giving any clues, but acknowledging the crucial role women play in national development and speaking highly of them just this week, has triggered the minds of political analysts and observers.

At the event, Dr. Bawumia managed to identify how women were needed in the area of digitalization, which he has championed since the Akufo-Addo government took over power.

He even called on leaders to break the status quo and barriers for women to unlock their potential in the digital economy.

“As leaders, we must challenge the status quo, break down barriers and pave the way for the future generations of female entrepreneurs and innovators. We must champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of business, ensuring that every voice is heard and every talent is recognised.”

“Today, I call upon all stakeholders – government, private sector, civil society and academia – to join hands in supporting our women-led businesses, promoting digital literacy, and fostering an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship,” he added.

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