Bawumia unveils his 70-point transformative plan to develop Ghana

New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has unveiled an extensive list of 70 initiatives that he promises to implement if elected President of Ghana.

Speaking during the NPP’s manifesto launch in Takoradi, he detailed plans to address economic, educational, energy, and healthcare challenges, among others.

His approach focuses on leveraging technology, private sector collaboration, and bold reforms to secure a prosperous future for all Ghanaians.

Here are the 70 initiatives Bawumia laid out:

1. Growth mindset curriculum to build critical skills such as problem-solving, risk-taking, and design thinking.
2. Reposition the education system towards STEM, robotics, AI, and vocational skills.
3. Expand infrastructure at medical schools and the Ghana Law School.
4. Enhance fiscal discipline via an independent fiscal responsibility council.
5. Reduce the number of ministers to 50.
6. Amend the Fiscal Responsibility Act to ensure budgeted expenditure does not exceed 105% of the previous year’s tax revenue.
7. Leverage the private sector to reduce the fiscal burden on government.
8. Introduce a flat tax regime for individuals and SMEs with exemption thresholds for the poor.
9. Tax amnesty to encourage tax compliance.
10. Electronic and faceless audits by GRA.
11. Abolish the e-levy (no taxes on digital payments).
12. Remove VAT on electricity if still on the books.
13. No emissions tax.
14. No betting tax.
15. Fully automate Tema port.
16. Align port duties at Tema with those at Lome Port.
17. Introduce flat-rate duties for spare parts importers.
18. Train 1,000,000 youth in IT skills through private sector collaboration.
19. Empower the private sector to create sustainable and well-paying jobs for the youth.
20. Reduce the cost of data by working with industry players to set clear policy guidelines.
21. Allocate spectrum expeditiously.
22. Simplify the passport process for GhanaCard holders.
23. Implement an e-visa policy for international visitors to Ghana.
24. Attain food security through technology and irrigation on large-scale farms.
25. Promote agricultural lime to improve soil fertility and increase yields.
26. Prioritize the construction of the Pwalugu Dam using private sector financing.
27. Adopt electric vehicles for public transportation.
28. Partner with the private sector to build housing estates without borrowing.
29. Enhance the National Rental Assistance Scheme to deal with demands for rent advances.
30. Diversify the energy mix with 2,000MW of solar and additional wind power.
31. Increase private sector participation in energy generation and retail.
32. Abolish import duties on solar panels.
33. License all miners practicing responsible mining.
34. End the seizure and burning of excavators for miners within legal limits.
35. Decentralize the Minerals Commission and EPA to all mining districts.
36. Convert abandoned mining shafts into community mining schemes.
37. Expand community mining schemes nationwide.
38. Ensure district mining committees are responsible for reclamation and replanting.
39. Introduce a pension scheme for small-scale miners, similar to cocoa farmers.
40. Add vocational training on sustainable mining to the TVET curriculum.
41. Provide reclamation equipment to authorities in mining communities.
42. Establish common-user gold processing units in mining districts through private sector collaboration.
43. Audit all mining concessions and new applications.
44. Abolish VAT on exploration services to encourage more exploration.
45. Establish a Minerals Development Bank to support the mining industry.
46. Set up an LBMA-certified gold refinery in Ghana within four years.
47. Ensure all responsibly mined gold is sold to the central bank, PMMC, or MIIF and refined before export.
48. Engage exploration experts from universities to assist in exploring Ghana’s seven gold belts.
49. Allocate resources annually to the Geological Survey Department for mapping gold reserves.
50. Build Ghana’s gold reserves to strengthen the country’s external payments.
51. Protect local industries from smuggling through increased border security.
52. Create Special Economic Zones at Ghana’s major border towns to reduce smuggling and create jobs.
53. Introduce individualized credit scoring to improve financial inclusion.
54. Digitize land titling and transfer processes to enhance transparency.
55. Amend Article 87 of the 1992 Constitution to mandate party manifestos be aligned with national policies.
56. Amend the 1992 Constitution to reduce presidential powers, enhance decentralization, and review ex-gratia payments.
57. Create incentives for corporate sponsorship of sports development.
58. Establish the Ghana School Sports Secretariat to promote school-level sports development.
59. Use technology and data to improve healthcare and expand medical infrastructure.
60. Introduce digital platforms for artists to boost the creative arts and tourism sectors.
61. Provide tax incentives for film producers and musicians to promote local content.
62. Implement visa-on-arrival policies for all international visitors.
63. Recruit 1,000 special education teachers and retrain others to support special needs students.
64. Train more therapists in speech, language, and occupational skills for special needs education.
65. Decentralize fiscal and administrative responsibilities across government.
66. Empower the private sector to build roads, hospitals, and schools to ease the government’s burden.
67. Fully implement the Affirmative Action Act to promote equal opportunities.
68. Make national service optional for those who secure employment after education.
69. Collaborate with international sports bodies like the NBA and NFL to make Ghana a hub for emerging sports.
70. Support the youth in IT skills development and create job opportunities globally.

These 70 initiatives reflect Dr. Bawumia’s vision for a transformed Ghana, driven by technology, private sector participation, and policies tailored to ease the burden on ordinary Ghanaians.