During a meeting with stakeholders from the creative sector on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), opened up about his past hardships. His remarks followed a plea from dancehall artist Shatta Wale, who urged Bawumia to find ways to assist young people facing challenges on the streets.
Drawing from his own experiences, the Vice-President expressed empathy for those in similar situations. Speaking in pidgin English, as requested by Shatta Wale, Dr. Bawumia stated, “Me I be farmworker before, by-day worker, I be taxi driver before, I be cleaner before, so I know how people dey suffer before.”
He also emphasized his ongoing humanitarian efforts, saying, “What dey my heart be the people wey dey suffer for the country inside. E be ein dey my heart. I be patron of Leper’s Aid Ghana. Me den lepers dey eat together because I dey wan help them. Also, I be patron of Mother Teresa’s Soup Kitchen and we help the street children. So my heart dey the street inside. The thing wey I dey do all, I dey do am sake of I wan help the people.”
Dr. Bawumia further highlighted the role of digitalization in empowering the youth, suggesting that it enables them to navigate various aspects of life without being exploited.
The meeting took place at the Alisa Hotel in Accra and saw participation from various stakeholders in the culture and creative industries. Following presentations on the NPP’s achievements in the arts and their plans for the upcoming election, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and share ideas aimed at improving the industry.
Looking ahead to the December 2024 election, the New Patriotic Party has pledged to offer tax incentives, travel protocol services, e-visas for visitors, and online streaming platforms to support Ghana’s creative sector if they secure a victory.
