Ashanti NPP Organiser urges clergy to advise Mahama to desist from insults before praying for him
The Ashanti Regional Organiser for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Francis Adomako, has chastised former President John Mahama for indulging in politics of insults instead of focusing on issues-based campaign ahead of the 7th December polls.
Dr.Francis Adomako aka Francois
He has, therefore, called on the clergy, especially those who are going to meet and pray for Mr. Mahama on Monday, 11th November 2024, in Kumasi, to rather take more time to advise him to refrain from his campaign of insults because the insults are becoming too many.
This appeal by Dr. Adomako, who is also the Dean of all Regional Organisers, follows the announcement by Mr. Mahama to meet some clergy men to seek their prayers in Kumasi.
Former President John Mahama
The Ashanti NPP Organiser, who is popularly known as Francois in the political space, said “after the meeting, I’m expecting former President John Mahama to turn over a new leaf and campaign on issues, by telling Ghanaians what he can do differently to improve their well-being when voted into power.”
He reminded Mr. Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the 2024 general election is not a contest of insults, but rather it is about someone with good vision and policies to ensure accelerated development of Ghana.
Francois said he was very surprised that the NDC presidential candidate, after describing the Ghanaian clergy, imams and chiefs as a bunch of hypocrites and bootlickers of Akufo-Addo and Bawumia, is now going back to the same clergy for prayers.
According to him, this shows that Mahama’s hypocrisy has no measure and that should send a strong signal to voters to be cautious of his tricks, urging them to reject him at the polls.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TO: ALL MEDIA HOUSES
CC: INTER PARTY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ( IPAC)
DATE: 10TH NOVEMBER, 2024.
*THE GHANA ARMED FORCES( GAF) SHOULD NOT BE DEPLOYED TO POLLING AND COLLATION CENTRES FOR THE 7th December 2024 GENERAL ELECTIONS EXCEPT THE GHANA POLICE.
1.The African Electoral Institute calls for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) NOT TO BE DEPLOYED in the coming general elections on 7th December 2024.
This call has become very necessary due to some of the unfortunate incidents that occurred in the 7th December 2020 general elections with the Ghana Armed Forces involvement notably in Techiman and elsewhere in the country.
2.The African Electoral Institute is of the view that the Military (GAF) should be left to play their primary role of defending the country’s territorial borders , whether by land, Sea or Air from any foreign attack or invasion.
3.The Institute views the full participation in general elections by the Military as taking them away from their core duties as stated above. Thus, bringing the military so close to their civilian counterparts has the potential to influence their way of doing things which can bring their reputation as a neutral body into question depending on which political lenses one is wearing.
Therefore, when the neutrality of the Military is brought into question, it raises national security concerns.
4.Another reason why the African Electoral Institute is suggesting that the Military should not take frontline duties especially at Polling and Collation Centers during general elections or any other elections especially at particular regions and constituencies is that, some political actors or some members of the public see their presence as intimidating and this can lead to low voter turnout ie deterring some voters from coming out to cast their ballots.
5.The Institute also believes that the active involvement of the Military during elections has the possibility to erode the trust in the electoral process, leading to disputed election outcomes and potential unrest.
We all agree that elections can only be said to be free, fair, transparent, and accountable if they are organized or conducted in accordance with democratic and civilian principles by the Electoral Commission.
6.The African Electoral Institute by issuing this statement is calling on the Electoral Commission to collaborate with the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and all electoral management bodies including the Security Services, National Security and all political stakeholders to come together to discuss this matter further , to come out with the best way forward to make sure that some of the unfortunate incidents that took place in the 2020 general elections in which some Ghanaian voters lost their lives, never recurs come 7th December 2024.
7.Let us together allow elections to be managed and overseen by civilian authorities such as the Electoral Commission with collaborations from other electoral stakeholders, devoid of the heavy presence of the Military which is interpreted as a kind of intimidation tactics masterminded by the ruling government for unfair advantage for its candidates.
8.The AEI equally want the Ghana Police Service (GPS) who are mandated by the 1992 Constitution to be responsible for all Internal Security Operations (ISO) to move and take their rightful place come 7th December 2024.
9.In conclusion, the African Electoral Institute states emphatically that since the beginning of the fourth Republic in 1992, the Military has not been a core part of Ghana’s elections until 2020 general elections were the Military was involved and precious lives lost.
The African Electoral Institute hereby re-emphasis that the fundamental principle of democratic elections is that they should be conducted in a civilian-led manner because, the involvement of the military in elections can lead to voter intimidation, and voter suppression, thereby undermining the integrity and credibility of a mere civil process which must reflect the will of the people.
-END-
SIGNED
Joshua Adjin-Tettey Director of Communications and External Relations
0540904550
Engr. Judge Hasford Quartey
*Deputy Director of Communications and External Relations.
0547510174
Ex. WO1 Alhaji Yussif Mahamah
*Electoral Security Department
0243311965
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African Electoral Institute ( AEI) is a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) founded to deliver sustainable electoral solutions to Emerging and Developed Democracies to strengthen, augment, and build electoral stakeholders capacity and participation on electoral issues through electoral education on voter’s rights and freedom, electoral research, election monitoring, election observation, election results collation, election security awareness and training of polling agents and elections directors underscoring the fact that “elections are won at the polling stations’’ and the participation of all identifiable electoral stakeholders in an electoral process such as Political Parties, Governmental Institutions, underpinning transparency and accountability for a free, fair, and credible elections in Africa and the wider world.
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The Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC), in collaboration with Master Card Foundation, Blue Skies and other partners, has successfully held this year’s KIC School Farm competition at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Friday, 8th November 2024.
The KIC’s school farm competition seeks to increase the interest of high school students in agriculture,give them a hands-on experience and exposing them to career prospects in agriculture.
The colourful, interesting and memorable ceremony, which was witnessed by key stakeholders and participating schools, was telecast live, and it coincided with the 2024 National Farmers’ Day.
The prizes of awardees included tablets, laptops, desktop computers, plaques and certificates. Besides, the overall best winners were given a trophy and additional computers.
A list of the various categories and winners is presented below:
50 top performing schools in the 2024 KIC School Farm project, including basic and senior high schools received handsome products from sponsors.
A recognition award was given to the STEM Directory of the Ministry of Education, which was received by Mrs. Olivia Serwaa Opare, Director (STEM) unit of GES.
A recognition award to all 16 STEM regional co-ordinators for their support for the KIC School Farm project.
The three outstanding awards for STEM co-ordinators were won by Mrs. Rosemary Ahiate, Mr. Freddick Owusu and Mr. Wuni Nazini Wudana.
Most entrepreneurial school award went to Okanta Presbyterian School.
Goriyi R/C JHS won the most committed school award.
Bepong SHS won the most innovative school award.
Top Basic School received the award for the most committed in soil and environmental protection.
Sawla School won the discovery of the year award.
The Special Young Leadership award was received by Salma Basiratu of Tamale Girls SHS; she went home with a tablet, a certificate and a plaque.
The best female student for JHS category went to Ewurama Mireku of Anyinam, whilst Mensah Zakaria grabbed the best male student category.
For the best SHS category, Isabala Amartey of Methodist Girls won the female one, while Joshua took the male category.
The three most inclusive awards went to Ashanti School for the Deaf, Savelugu School for the Deaf as well as Garden City Special School at Asokore Mampong.
Best Teacher JHS category was won by Madam Priscilla Awuku, and for her prize she went home with a laptop, a plaque and a certificate.
Best teacher award SHS category went to Abubakari Abdulai of Vitting SHS with a similar prize.
Nashiru Abugri of Peki SHTS won the Lemuel Mantey Agric Leadership award and went home with a laptop, a plaque, certificate and GH¢1,000 as his prize.
Madam Alice Karikari of Yaa Asanteman Girls SHS won the Ruth Smith Adjei award and also took home a laptop, a plaque, certificate and GH¢1,000.
The Dr. Anthony Pile Special Recognition award was won by Meshack Okunnor, and he also took home a similar prize.
The overall best JHS: 2nd runner-up was won by Goriyiri R/C JHS; 1st runner-up was won by Badu Nyamebekyere JHS and the overall best award won by Okanta Presbyterian School. The contestants went home with four desktop computers, a plaque and a certificate.
The overall best SHS category:
St. John Grammar School took the 3rd runner-up award; Peki SHTS took the 2nd runner-up award; the 1st runner-up went to St. Joseph Technical Institute and the overall best award won by Tamale Girls SHS.
The Tamale Girls Senior High School (SHS) in the Northern Region has been adjudged the overall best 2024 KIC School Farm competition, with St. Joseph Technical Institute taking the first runner-up position.
For their awards,the contestants went home with five,four(4) desktop computers, citations, plaques and a trophy sponsored by Kosmos Innovation Centre (KIC), in collaboration with Master Card Foundation and other partners.
Other winners of the various categories of the competition, also received three and two desktop computers,plaque and certificates respectively .
Mr.Nana Joe Mensah,the Board Chairman of KIC making presentation to one of the award winning schools
The 2024 KIC School Farm competition was held at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on Friday, 8th November 2024.
Tamale Girls SHS lifting the trophy for winning the overall best 2024 KIC School farm of the year.
The KIC School Farm competition was originated by Blue Skies Foundation. The competition recognises schools in Ghana that demonstrate excellence in the establishment and running of a farm and gives awards to them.
This year’s KIC School Farm awards ceremony chaired by the Chief of Essuowin in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region, Nana Appiah Kyei, was under the theme: “Unveiling the next generation of agricultural leaders”.
In his brief remarks, Mr. Benjamin Gyan-Kesse, the Executive Director of KIC, said the awards ceremony was exciting.
According to him, the competition has now covered 560 schools across the country. He gave an assurance that they were working with their partners, such as Master Card Foundation, Blue Skies,the STEM unit of the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, among others, to include more schools.
Mr. Gyan-Kesse revealed that, through the support of their partners, more than 42,000 children had been trained in agricultural practices.
He, therefore, expressed their profound gratitude to teachers, headteachers, community members, etc. He said KIC believes that agriculture holds the key to the nation’s development; hence, it is committed to raising agricultural leaders for the next generation.
On his part, Nana Joe Mensah, KIC Board Chairman, commended Master Card Foundation, which has supported the competition originated by Blue Skies Foundation.
He said agriculture used to be the main backbone of the country. He, therefore, called on all Ghanaians to help the country revert to that situation so as to prepare for the future; he encouraged the youth to take a keen interest in agriculture.
In his comments, Nana Appiah Kyei revealed that Ghana remains a major importer of food products and it is highly dependent, especially on the import of rice and poultry.
“Domestic production supplies just about 70 per cent of our national food demand and nutritional needs,” he pointed out.
He said, for example, 55 per cent of the rice Ghanaians consume is imported, adding that the country produces only five per cent of the poultry meat we consume and imports 95 per cent from the Netherlands, Brazil, USA and other countries at a cost of about US 400 million per annum. “In fact, we imported about $2.6 billion of agricultural and related products in 2022 alone,” he noted.
He said despite a growing demand for processed food largely for the convenience of the growing urban and middle-income households, the share of locally processed agricultural products dropped from nearly 15 per cent in 2021 to five per cent in 2019, highlighting the existence of opportunities for expanding value addition locally.
The chief, therefore, cautioned that Ghana could expect normal population growth to drive the growth in demand for food and other agricultural products to increase food security if we do not redouble our efforts.
According to him, this is what drove Kosmos to establish the Kosmos Innovation Centre in 2016, with the a focus on driving innovation in agriculture, fuelled by local talent to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The Churches of Christ, Ghana, is putting up a 150-bed hospital at Bomso in the Oforikrom Municipality of Ashanti.
The Hospital, which is currently at the 1st floor level, will cost the Church three million Dollars through a financial of a U.S-based philanthropist and will ultimately upgrade the existing Churches of Christ Mission Clinic to expand its range of services to members of the public upon completion.
The ongoing project
The Board Chairman of the Ghana Bible College, Professor Collins Fosu, announced this at Bomso near Kumasi at the 54th Graduation of the College.
The Ghana Bible College was established by US Missionaries of the Church of Christ about 62 years ago to train Ministers to drive the Church in Ghana towards churches planting and souls winning for the Kingdom of God in West Africa.
It has since produced thousands of Evangelists for the Church at its main Campus at Bomso near Kumasi and also at its satellite Campuses.
As a strategy of evangelism, the Missionaries attached to the Ghana Bible College a Clinic to serve the healthcare needs of both church members and members of the public.
At this year’s graduation ceremony for 43 students who have completed Bachelor, Diploma and Certificate programmes in Biblical Studies and Ministry, the Board Chairman of the Bible College, Professor Collins Frimpong, announced the construction of a 150-bed hospital to replace the Churches of Christ Mission Clinic to serve the health needs of the people through the benevolence of a philanthropic family in the U.S.A and urged members of the church in Ghana to also contribute towards the mission of the church in the country.
“This is a charitable venture by a family to the glory of God without any contribution from us here. We also own the Ghana Bible College. Let’s generously contribute to sustain and make it big”, the Board Chairman rallied members of the Church in Ghana.
The Principal of the Ghana Bible College, Emmanuel Antwi, announced that, the Church in the USA, who were financing operations of the College, have weaned the institution of its support thereby cutting any external financial aid.
It is now the obligation of members of the churches in Ghana to contribute generously toward sustenance of the College and its operations.
“They say Ghana is the 2nd highest membership of the Church in the world so if there’s any help to offer, they are re-direxting it elsewhere. We’ve more than enough members of the church in Ghana who can pool resources to finance the College to continue proclaiming the unadulterated word of God for the unborn generation”, Mr. Antwi urged.
The Principal announced that, management of the Bible College has introduced training in income earning ventures including mushroom production, snails rearing and bee-keeping for the students and their wives to generate additional income during their practice.
Nana Owusu Achiaw Brempong, a 70-year-old from the Afigya Sekyere South district of the Ashanti Region, has been adjudged 2024 the National best farmer.
Nana Owusu whose farming journey began 50 years ago, owns the North American farms with 168 workers, cultivating diverse crops including cocoa and cashew.
He received one million Ghana cedis as part of his reward.
Nana Owusu Achaw Brempong,who is the chief of Akrofoso near Agona and Ashanti Regional twice elected member of Council of State,in his accepted speech,called for increased efforts towards food security.
The Farmers’ Day Celebration took place concurrently across the country, recognizing farmers for their dedication and contribution to the economy.
Nana Owusu Achaw Brempong
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and other dignitaries were present at the event.
The Vice President and 2024 Presidential Candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on Friday, joined farmers of Jacobu, in the in the Odotobri constituency, to celebrate this year’s farmer’s day.
After 40 years of the inception of this prestigious farmer’s awards, this is the very first time that a sitting Vice President, in the history of Ghana has graced this national event outside Accra.
Screenshot of Dr Bawumia speaking at the farmer’s Day celebration
The celebration, is in recognition of farmers and fishers who have distinguished themselves across the country during the year will be honoured in 15 award categories.
Speaking on the theme: “Building climate-resilient agriculture for sustainable food security,” he said the theme was well chosen as it reflects a commitment by the government to adapt agricultural practices in response to climate change challenges.
The NPP flagbearer hinted that the next government under his leadership, will ensure that cocoa farmer’s children enjoy free tertiary education.
He assured that, the NPP government under President Akufo-Addo, will continue to come out with necessary innovations that will push the farming industry higher.
The Vice President explained the many interventions that the NPP government has implemented which have inured to the benefit of farmers in the country.
Video attached below;
This year, there was no regional-level celebrations, however, each of the 16 regions were permitted to nominate 10 regional award categories.
In a heartfelt show of support for breast cancer awareness, MTN Ghana organized “Y’ello Goes Pink Day” for its staff in October 2024. The event, held at MTN House and its regional offices, was part of a series of activities aimed at raising awareness about the disease.
Before the Y’ello Goes Pink Day event commenced, two groups within MTN—Scancom Cooperative Credit Union and Women in Technology (WIT) Cohort 3 Ladies —presented token donations to the Acting Chief Human Resource Officer, Mr. Abdallah Ibrahim, in support of women battling cancer. This donation was made to encourage MTN staff to voluntarily contribute funds for this cause.
The day’s program not only educated attendees about the importance of early detection and healthy living but also fostered a sense of community among participants.
The event kicked off with the Wellness Wave Fair, where employees had the opportunity to undergo medical screenings for various health checks, including Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure, and breast screening exercise. To promote overall wellness, the fair featured a special Bra Sales and Bra Management session led by Dansowaa Omega Amponsah, CEO of Pretty Little Things, who shared practical advice on proper bra usage and maintenance.
Dietician Nana Kofi Owusu took the stage to discuss healthy eating habits that can aid in cancer prevention. He emphasized the benefits of having balanced nutrition. He also explained the nutritional value of various foods, empowering participants to make informed dietary choices for better health.
Dr. Dennis Bortey, a renowned Medical Doctor, led a vital session on breast cancer and shared insights on self-examination techniques. He educated employees on how to perform self-checks and stressed that early detection can be lifesaving. During his talk, he highlighted key factors, symptoms, and treatment options for breast cancer, providing participants with valuable information to recognize early signs of the disease.
To keep energy levels high, the event featured an exciting fitness session with Jay Fitness, which got everyone on their feet and actively participating in some aerobic exercises. The fitness session included giveaways, adding an element of fun and engagement to the day’s activities.
At the end of “Y’ello Goes Pink Day,” MTN employees walked away with more than just gifts—they gained vital knowledge on how to live healthier lives and detect signs of breast cancer early. The event successfully fostered a culture of awareness and proactive health management, reinforcing MTN Ghana’s commitment to supporting the fight against breast cancer.
End.
Media Contacts:
Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe
Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer
PRESS RELEASE*(To welcome Alhaji Bawumia to Oforikrom Constituency)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
07/11/2024
The Shameful Neglect of Oforikrom Constituency in the Ashanti Region by the NPP Government: Residents Demand Accountability and Action on Broken Promises
Oforikrom, Ashanti Region, Ghana — The people of Oforikrom Constituency in the Ashanti Region are fed up with the appalling neglect they’ve suffered under the failed leadership of the NPP government, led by Prez. Akuffo Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Despite making repeated promises to this constituency, the NPP has abandoned its commitments and shown nothing but disdain for the very communities that have historically supported them.
For over seven years, the people of Oforikrom have been waiting for the government’s promises to materialize. But what do we see? An incomplete, abandoned CHPS compound in Kentinkrono that has now become a haven for criminals and a risk to public safety. Our people have been left to fend for themselves without this vital healthcare facility, abandoned by a government that has shown itself to be nothing more than a failure. Where is the accountability?
And what about the infamous “$1 million per constituency” that was promised? Where is our $8 million? It’s certainly not here in Oforikrom. Just like the countless promises that have been made, this one too has vanished into thin air, a mirage that the NPP uses only to lure votes and then promptly forgets.
One only has to look around to see the mess the NPP has left behind. The Oforikrom Interchange—a project that Prez. Akuffo Addo and Dr. Bawumia themselves swore to deliver—remains nothing but another broken promise, leaving our roads clogged and our residents dealing with unsafe conditions. And we haven’t even begun to address the abandoned municipal assembly building at Emena, left incomplete and forgotten, an eyesore and an insult to our community.
The government’s lack of basic responsibility is nowhere more evident than in its failure to fix the Opoku Transport traffic light, a simple issue that has been ignored, causing countless accidents and loss of lives. The neglect extends to our streets—Akosuaku to Zormelo Down, Bomso Gari factory bridge,Gariba streets—all have been left to rot for over seven years. These streets are crumbling, our infrastructure is in tatters, and this government has done nothing but turn its back on us.
Meanwhile, youth unemployment is skyrocketing, becoming a clear national security threat. The NPP has completely abandoned our young people, leaving them without jobs, without opportunities, and without hope. Is this the legacy of a government that claims to prioritize development?
For Dr. Bawumia to now return to Oforikrom Constituency to campaign is an insult beyond words. He has the audacity to ask for our votes while failing, time and again, to deliver on his promises. Ghanaians remember Bawumia’s shocking statement that he would “choose a Ghana Card over 1,000 interchanges.” Well, it’s abundantly clear that Oforikrom Constituency was never even a consideration in his “priorities.” Bawumia has proven that he values symbolism over substance, leaving us with no roads, no projects, no employment, and no hope.
The people of Oforikrom Constituency have had enough. We refuse to support a government that lies to our faces and then abandons us. We will not be swayed by the hollow words of a failed Vice President who has turned his back on us, only to return now for votes. The NPP has taken our loyalty for granted, delivering nothing but empty promises, neglected projects, and utter disregard for the well-being of Oforikrom Constituency
In conclusion, we cannot—and will not—cast our votes for a Vice President who has not only been instrumental in ruining the livelihoods of our people but who now shamefully deflects his own incompetence by blaming his boss. We refuse to support a man whose family’s legacy has contributed to the collapse of Ghana Cocoa Board, once the pride of our nation. As the Akan proverb says, “Okoto nnwo anoma”—a crab does not give birth to a bird. We will not be fooled by false promises or false leaders.
Come Election Day, the people of Oforikrom will make their voices heard and vote out a government that has done nothing but fail us.
End of Release
Contact
Jerry James Sukah(Papa Jay)
NDC Oforikrom Constituency Communications Officer
(0553341679)
The Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has launched myCreditScore, a personalised credit reference and scoring system for Ghanaians.
Backed by the Central Bank, this Credit Scoring System offers individual Ghanaians the opportunity to demonstrate their creditworthiness transparently, helping them access credit more easily.
Through this system, individuals who display good credit behaviour and earn high scores will be rewarded by financial institutions, enabling them to access larger credit amounts and benefit from their financial responsibility.
At the launch event in Accra on Thursday, Dr Bawumia described the credit scoring system as a “momentous occasion” and a “step forward in building a dynamic credit economy for Ghana and all Ghanaians.”
He noted, “It is a significant milestone in Ghana’s journey towards a financially inclusive and empowered society,” adding that the launch of myCreditScore represents “yet another chapter in the nation’s ambitious journey towards financial inclusion.”
A Solution to Longstanding Lending Challenge
Dr Bawumia, who spearheaded the project, said that myCreditScore introduces a critical tool that transforms access to credit in Ghana and addresses longstanding challenges related to lending and borrowing.
“With this system, the financial sector will now have a reliable way to assess the creditworthiness of individuals, a change that is expected to help address high lending rates.
“The absence of a credit information system has increased lending risks, leading financial institutions to offer less credit,” Dr Bawumia noted.
“A credit reporting system in Ghana will provide timely, accurate, and up-to-date information on debt profiles and borrowers’ repayment history, yielding numerous benefits
The Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has launched myCreditScore, a personalised credit reference and scoring system for Ghanaians.
Backed by the Central Bank, this Credit Scoring System offers individual Ghanaians the opportunity to demonstrate their creditworthiness transparently, helping them access credit more easily.
Through this system, individuals who display good credit behaviour and earn high scores will be rewarded by financial institutions, enabling them to access larger credit amounts and benefit from their financial responsibility.
At the launch event in Accra on Thursday, Dr Bawumia described the credit scoring system as a “momentous occasion” and a “step forward in building a dynamic credit economy for Ghana and all Ghanaians.”
He noted, “It is a significant milestone in Ghana’s journey towards a financially inclusive and empowered society,” adding that the launch of myCreditScore represents “yet another chapter in the nation’s ambitious journey towards financial inclusion.”
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A Solution to Longstanding Lending Challenges
Dr Bawumia, who spearheaded the project, said that myCreditScore introduces a critical tool that transforms access to credit in Ghana and addresses longstanding challenges related to lending and borrowing.
“With this system, the financial sector will now have a reliable way to assess the creditworthiness of individuals, a change that is expected to help address high lending rates.
“The absence of a credit information system has increased lending risks, leading financial institutions to offer less credit,” Dr Bawumia noted.
“A credit reporting system in Ghana will provide timely, accurate, and up-to-date information on debt profiles and borrowers’ repayment history, yielding numerous benefits.”
He added, “This initiative comes at a crucial time for Ghana’s financial sector. Recent data from CEIC Data shows that, as of August 2024, Ghana’s non-performing loan (NPL) rate stands at 24.3%, with a peak of 26.7% earlier this year.”
High NPL levels have indicated challenges within Ghana’s financial ecosystem, and the lack of a standardised, transparent credit scoring system has increased risks for lenders and limited financial inclusion for borrowers.
“The introduction of myCreditScore is a pivotal step toward addressing these challenges, aligning Ghana’s credit ecosystem with international standards, and promoting a culture of responsible borrowing,” Dr Bawumia added.
The Vice President highlighted positive outcomes from a pilot project, saying, “Results from the myCreditScore pilot show a stark improvement, achieving an NPL ratio of just 1.4%, a remarkable contrast to the 20.7% average reported in 2023 by the Bank of Ghana.”
He expressed optimism that myCreditScore will enable fairer and more consistent evaluations of creditworthiness, reduce defaults significantly, and boost confidence among financial institutions, ultimately expanding access to credit for individuals and businesses alike.
“This initiative reflects a broader commitment to sustainable economic growth, where financial stability and trust in credit practices play foundational roles,” he remarked.
“With systems like myCreditScore, Ghana is positioned to transition into a financial ecosystem that facilitates responsible borrowing and lending practices, driving economic resilience and inclusive growth for all stakeholders.”
A 17-Year Journey Fulfilled
Dr Bawumia expressed satisfaction at realising a personalised credit scoring system for Ghana, recalling that the journey began in 2007 during his tenure as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, following the passing of the Credit Reporting Act by Parliament. However, the project did not progress further after a government change in 2009.
“The purpose of the Credit Reporting Act (Act 726) is to provide a legal and regulatory framework for credit reporting in Ghana,” he explained.
“The availability of credit information is widely recognised as essential for the development and maintenance of an effective financial sector, as borrowers often have a natural incentive not to disclose negative information about themselves.”
An Effective Partnership with the Private Sector
Dr Bawumia acknowledged that the launch of myCreditScore represents another success story of effective government-private sector collaboration.
He expressed gratitude to the Bank of Ghana and other stakeholders for supporting the project’s launch and commended the ingenuity of Ghana’s private sector, which he said has developed all the digital initiatives he has championed.
“My thanks go to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, the management and staff, for making this possible. This credit scoring initiative you have licensed and which we are launching today is a major achievement, and Ghana will forever be grateful.”
He added, “I am also thrilled that this initiative is a homegrown Ghanaian private-sector effort. We will continue to support our private sector in championing such initiatives in digital and other sectors.”
He concluded with optimism: “Let us move forward with purpose, knowing that together we’re building a Ghana where financial inclusion is real, dreams are within reach, and every Ghanaian has the chance to achieve financial security and prosperity. It is possible!”Source:myjoyonline.com
