Bawumia vows to empower Ga State Youth through Education and Jobs
In a bid to address the long-standing challenges facing the Ga state, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) presidential candidate, has outlined a comprehensive plan to revitalize the region.
The Ga state, which is home to Ghana's capital city, has struggled with issues such as land disputes, cultural preservation, and economic empowerment.
During a courtesy call on the Ga Mantse, King Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Dr. Bawumia emphasized his commitment to finding lasting solutions to the region's challenges.
He acknowledged the historical significance of the Ga state and its contribution to Ghana's development, pledging to work closely with the traditional authorities and stakeholders to promote the region's growth.
As part of his plans, Dr. Bawumia announced initiatives aimed at promoting the Ga language and culture, as well as empowering the youth through education and job creation. He also highlighted his proposal to introduce solar-powered outboard motors to support the local fishing industry, reducing their reliance on premix fuel and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
“The Ga state hosts the capital of Ghana, and because of that the rest of Ghana is here but that has implications for the Ga state which we have to take account of, in the policy.
“It has implications because land becomes a problem. The demand for land here is much higher than anywhere in the country. This means indigenes do not get access to affordable land and that is a major issue we have to deal with.
“Secondly, educational opportunity is another issue, job is another issue for the youth here. The schools have limited chances for the youth who are here, limited jobs and also the language. The language is another problem because most of us who are here can survive without speaking Ga. That leads to a decline in the language.
“We have to make sure that Ga is taught in our schools to protect the language, otherwise, it is going to be very costly. There are a lot of issues of land which the Ga state has with the government and we have to resolve these issues. I promise you that as president I’m going to sit down with you and we will resolve these issues in your favour.”
“All of you have seen that we have built the James Town Harbour and that is going to help the fishing community. Our fishermen have a problem with premix fuel. And so, I have come up with a new idea because there’s so much corruption involved in the distribution of premix fuel.
“Let us move away from premix fuel to outboard motors which use solar power. Solar power to power the outboard motors. Our fishermen don’t have to buy premix fuel anymore. We have brought the solar-powered outboard motors, everything has begun, we did it in Apam.
“Wednesday we are going to Tema to bring all the chief fishermen to demonstrate so that everybody will see how these solar-powered outboard motors work. I believe that it will make the fishermen rich because they don’t have to spend a lot of money on fuel anymore.”
The Ga Mantse welcomed Dr. Bawumia's proposals, emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach to addressing the region's challenges.
He urged Dr. Bawumia to prioritize the needs of the Ga people, should he become president, and to ensure that their concerns are addressed through a social contract.
“Hosting the capital has not been easy, thanks for talking about solutions. We’re in line with your solutions, let’s get them done. Come December 7, if Ghanaians give you the nod, we want a social contract with the Ga people. We also want you to place in prime positions Ga and Dangmes indigenes within your party so that they effectively serve their purpose and promote our Ga culture and who we are.”
Bawumia was accompanied by Greater Accra Regional Minister Titus Glover, party executives, and Darkoa Newman, the NPP parliamentary candidate for Okaikoi South where the palace is located.
Source: Florence Kyei / Lead News Online
