A glimpse of hope is setting in Ghana, Africa

The election of Dr William Ruto as President of Kenya must have taken a lot of political scien­tists by surprise having beaten a veteran politician with decades of experience doing politics in Africa. However, the youth of Kenya were vindicated in less than a year into Dr William Ruto’s administration as the latter’s policies which reflect his philosophies conform to the mentality of the new generation of African Youth.

“The African Union should attend group meetings on behalf of the entire African continent. African leaders are elected representatives of their people and should be granted the same level of respect as leaders from other parts of the world”. These are some excerpts of President Ruto’s statements.

These were not mere words to please the African people but rather actions backed by strong policies for the development of a New Africa which is making a stand against any form of pressure to choose between two hegemonic powers in the world; West being led by America and Great Britain and Asia being led by Russia and China.

Africa just needs development, that’s all.

I am particularly not surprised by the speeches of Dr Ruto and President Ramaphosa looking at their backgrounds and the poli­cies they are driving at home.

Ghanaians generally saw same in the former President Mahama before his presidential term. Mr Mahama has a unique background and upbringing in multiple environments that made him look perfect for the mo­ment in 2008 and 2012 because the Ghanaian Youth thought he understood the nature of a hardworking youth.

It could also be said of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who has almost the same background as Mr Mahama but with more pedigree academically and rich experience managing resources and wealth although Mr Mahama is advanced in politics.

The new generation of African Youth are not asking so much other than opportunity to aspire and dream big, i.e simply HOPE.

Hope can be described among the new generation of African Youth as GENUINE SIGNS of opportunities for prosperity regardless of one’s background, race and gender.

So as long as your hardwork pays, regardless of your profes­sion and background, you are considered living in a thriving society that creates equal oppor­tunities for all.

When a young man or woman sees an aged-group progressing as either a shoemaker, carpen­ter, fitter (mechanic), plumber, farmer, journalist, teacher, nurse or butcher, they would certainly consider that profession and the ambiance of the country as progressing enough to make everyone prosper.

In any society or community, where the above professionals are able to buy land and con­struct their own houses with the proceeds of their businesses, it would be considered a great society that rewards hard-work.

A society that creates a class system where only certain class of people and profession prevail and become successful is doomed to fail its youth.

Often times, as humans as we all are, we turn not to see and appreciate what we have and gained until we lost it or found ourselves in a bad circumstance or with an inferior product or service.

I have been travelling for the past eight years representing my sect, the Tijjaniya Muslims Movement of Ghana (TMMG) at international conferences around the world.

Representing my sect means I had the privilege of being with the top leadership of Tijjaniya Sufi Sect around the world at almost every place I set my foot which means great hotels, finest cuisines and cars.

But I must admit that anytime I leave the shores of Ghana, I found myself wanting to come back in just about 24 hours upon my arrival in either Abidjan, Kano, Lagos, Abuja, Calabar, Sokoto, Kaolackh, Ouagadou­gou, Bamako, Lome, Cotonou, Banjul, Nairobi, Addis, Belize or Panama.

The feeling is however differ­ent when I visit some capitals of the World; London, Washington DC, New York, Atlanta, Ham­burg, Helsinki, Copenhagen and Paris and the answer is in Peace, Harmony, Security, Easy banking system, transportation and inter religious relations.

All these are very common in Ghana to the extent that a Muslim could walk into any church premises and asks for clean water and nice place to worship when it’s time for any of the Islamic prayers and would not have a doubt about someone considering him or her to be a terrorist or religious lunatic.

Economic transactions are so easy and accessible that you need only go to Tudu, Zango lane or Nima anytime during the day or night to have a transaction done for you in 15mins to any part of the world. I’m afraid some of it do not declare their taxes and I condemn it but I understand it’s a necessity sometimes.

Theses, however, are not common and not easy in any of the places mentioned above in Africa without fear of losing one’s money, peace or life.

A renowned Christian clergy, Rt. Rev. Prof. Obiri Yeboah Mante, recently extolled the religious unifying character of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, describing him as a “Muslim-Christian”.

The head of UNDP Ghana recently wrote on their tweeter handle: the Vice President of Ghana is a Champion of Digital­isation with Equity to accelerate the inclusive and sustainable development.

The initiators of Change Foundation also described Dr Bawumia as the Digital Revo­lutionary Leader of the decade and actually honoured him with an Award on such.

Dr Bawumia is computerising and digitising Ghanaian homes and families to the extent that the least people considered as illiterate are able to conduct and transact businesses just like a literate with university degree.

Today in Ghana, people buy things like Charlie Wote, soap, sponge and nail cutters online and get it delivered to them in the comfort of their homes. What an amazing society we are leapfrogging into Insha Allah.

It is not happening just by chance or accident. It is hap­pening because it is meant and designed to be so and even grow higher and prosperous. Our sys­tem is now being digitised with IT as its engine and the human capital as the legs with the bless­ings of Allah and thanks to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the digital man of the continent, has a lot to offer Ghanaians and I believe that although he is part of the mess created by this government, he might have done certain things differently if he has the ultimate SAY or AU­THORITY.

I can’t list everything that Dr Bawumia directly or indirectly engineered or smartly introduced into our daily socioeconomic lifestyles because I am not a political party person but the fol­lowing are some of the innova­tions that I can think of, for our dear readers to ponder over;

1. Strengthening of digital address system

2. E-pharmacy

3. Strengthening of NHIS system and renewals

4. Zipline medical delivery, which is one of its kind in the world

5. Strengthening and robust­ness of National ID card system and its successful implementa­tion

6. Reviving of Property rate system

7. Strengthening of online Payment system and clearance at the ports

8. The retooling of the police operations with drones, helicop­ters and CCTV

9. Introduction of E-tax cer­tificate

10. Registrar General Depart­ment online registration for companies

11. Interoperability system including MOMO

12.Strengthening of online school placement

13. Payment of essential bills online and on mobile phones

The injection of hope into doing business online and mak­ing digital payments accessible to everyone is a milestone and this may tickle the African Youth to say “WAIT A MINTUTE, THINGS ARE BEGINNING TO CHANGE FOR THE BET­TER”. Hope is showing its face.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, like him or not, is changing the narratives and na­ture of living and doing business in Ghana and it is A POSITIVE REVOLUTION.

[The writer is a member of the National Peace Council of Ghana (NPC), GA Branch and

Executive Secretary of Tijjaniya Muslims Movement of Ghana (TMMG)]

BY ALHAJI KHUZAIMA MOHAMMED OSMAN

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