The Bawumia for President Campaign Team, yesterday unveiled key elements from the NPP’s 2024 Manifesto, highlighting Dr Bawumia’s clear intent to make life more affordable for everyone. The plan, which resonates deeply with the everyday concerns of Ghanaians, reflects Dr Bawumia’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the ordinary citizen.
Dr Bawumia has a strategy to ensure that the cost of food is not a daily struggle for Ghanaian families. His approach is straightforward: stabilize the prices of locally produced foods. By securing financing and guarantees from institutions like the Development Bank Ghana (DBG) and the Ghana Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL), Bawumia aims to enhance the production and preservation of staple foods, along with meat, poultry, and fish.
Public transportation costs have a significant impact on the cost of living, and Dr Bawumia has a plan to bring these costs down. Recognizing the importance of affordable transportation for all Ghanaians, he is promoting the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) for public transport, which could drastically reduce fares. Additionally, the Gold-For-Oil Programme (G4O) will be expanded, helping to stabilize fuel prices—a key factor in transportation costs.
But it doesn’t stop there. Dr Bawumia is also focused on keeping the cost of vehicle maintenance in check. By introducing a “Flat Rate for all importers” policy, he aims to stabilize the prices of spare parts, making vehicle upkeep more predictable and less expensive. Plus, drivers can breathe a sigh of relief as licenses will now be valid for 10 years, with renewals every five years, cutting down on the frequency and cost of renewals.
Understanding that housing is a major expense for most Ghanaians, Dr Bawumia’s plan includes several housing options designed to meet different needs and budgets. From social housing, including shelters for the homeless and rental assistance for low-income workers, to affordable housing projects through incentives to the private sector, Dr Bawumia is committed to ensuring everyone has a place to call home.
Electricity is another area where Dr Bawumia is determined to make a difference. By bringing an additional 2,000 MW of solar power online, he aims to not only increase the availability of power but also make it more affordable. Through innovative programs like net metering, where users who generate excess power from their solar systems are compensated with “free electricity” from the national grid, Dr Bawumia plans to ensure that every kilowatt counts towards lowering energy bills.
Dr Bawumia’s vision of an affordable Ghana goes beyond addressing basic needs. He also aims to simplify access to services. With the GhanaCard, once registered, your basic data will be accessible across all relevant platforms, eliminating the need for multiple agencies to collect the same information. This streamlining will save time, reduce hassle, and ultimately lower costs associated with redundant processes.
Dr Bawumia’s plan isn’t just about numbers and policies; it’s about real people and real lives. He’s shown that he understands the challenges Ghanaians face every day and is ready to take concrete steps to alleviate them. His approach to reducing the cost of living is comprehensive, thoughtful, and, most importantly, doable. With Bawumia at the helm, Ghanaians can look forward to a future where life is more affordable, more stable, and more secure.
