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Faith-Based Organisations will have equal access to my office when elected – Bawumia assures
During a courtesy call on the Catholic Bishop of the Sunyani Diocese and President of the Ghana CatholicBishops Conference, Most Rev. Mathew Kwesi Gyamfi, on Wednesday, October 9, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia reiterated his promise to run an open-door government if elected, assuring that all faith-based organizations will have equal and unfettered access to his office.
He further reaffirmed his commitment to classifying the church and all faith-based organisations as key development partners.
The visit took place ahead of his campaign in the Bono Region and underscored his dedication to strengthening the relationship between the government and faith-based organizations.
Dr. Bawumia sought the prayers and spiritual blessings of the Bishop, emphasizing the vital role of the church in national development.
He stressed that religious institutions, including the Catholic Church, would play a significant role in shaping policies and contributing to the country’s development.
According to the Vice President, collaboration with faith-based organizations would be crucial in addressing key societal issues and promoting national unity.
“I intend to run an open-door government in which all faith-based organisations will have equal and frequent access to my office as president so we can collaboratively work for the development of Ghana,” he assured.
On his part, the Catholic Bishop expressed his deep appreciation for the Vice President’s visit, noting that it was the first time any sitting vice president had called on him.
He commended Dr. Bawumia’s approach to engaging with religious leaders and acknowledged the importance of maintaining a close relationship between the government and the church.
The Bishop emphasized that the church is committed to working alongside the government to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.
The Bishop also reaffirmed the church’s dedication to supporting initiatives that foster peace, education, and social progress.
He noted that by partnering with the government, the church could continue to play a pivotal role in uplifting communities and contributing to the nation’s growth. Both leaders agreed on the need for ongoing collaboration to address pressing national challenges and promote holistic development across Ghana.
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Government to spend GH¢13.9 billion on infrastructure in 2025 – Deputy Finance Minister
Government will commit GH¢13.9 billion in 2025 to priority infrastructure projects under its “Big Push” initiative, with the amount projected to rise to GH¢21.2 billion by 2028, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Ampem Nyarko has announced.
According to him, the funds will be drawn mainly from petroleum revenues under the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) and mineral royalties.
He indicated that the projects will focus on roads, transport, energy, power generation, digital infrastructure, and urban and rural development.
Mr. Ampem described the “Big Push” as an economic reset powered by a US$10 billion programme, stressing that the country’s infrastructure needs remain urgent.
He explained that Ghana requires US$37 billion every year for the next 30 years to meet development goals across sectors. Maintaining existing infrastructure alone, he added, will cost an extra US$8 billion annually.
The Deputy Minister drew attention to Ghana’s score of 47 out of 100 on the Global Infrastructure Hub index, which is below the average for lower-middle-income countries.
He argued that this was a sign of chronic underinvestment in critical sectors.
“Our cities need better transport. Our industries require dependable energy. Our farmers need modern irrigation. And our youth demand digital highways for the future,” he emphasized.
Mr. Ampem highlighted the limits of government spending, pointing out that the public purse cannot meet the demands alone. He stressed that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are therefore indispensable.
He revealed that the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) will set up Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to attract private capital, blended finance, and international development funding.
The Deputy Minister urged both local and international investors to explore opportunities in transport, energy, digital infrastructure, and urban development, describing them as “vast and transformative.”
He assured that the framework is in place, the vision is clear, and the government’s commitment under President Mahama’s leadership remains firm.
Mr. Ampem called for strong collaboration between government and the private sector, noting that sustainable infrastructure transformation will require a united effort.
The announcement was made at the KPMG Infrastructure Roadshow in Accra, held under the theme “Unlocking Ghana’s Public-Private Partnership Potential: Bridging Reform and Results”.
The event brought together policymakers, investors, engineers, and business leaders to explore strategies for accelerating infrastructure development.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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Ghana Tourism Marketplace is good initiative – Alisa Asamoah
The immediate past President of the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA), Chief Executive of Riali Consult, Mrs. Alisa Osei Asamoah, has lauded the Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) for its efforts to improve the viability of the sector through the Ghana Tourism Marketplace (GTM).
The GTM is an innovative platform that aggregates all tourism and hospitality vendors in Ghana, providing a unified platform for the distribution of their products and services.
The GTM is a shared economy model to benefit all stakeholders in the tourism ecosystem.
Speaking to the media after a stakeholder deliberation on GTM, Mrs.Asamoah said, this is what they are looking for. According to her, it is a good initiative by the GTDC.
“This is what we are all looking for. When you go to South Africa, and other countries, they have initiated the same thing,” he said.
She said this would positively impact the industry because that is where the private sector would exhibit their products, adding that it is going to be competitive.
Mrs.Asamoah concluded that this would increase trust between them and their clients, and from the presentation, the project would be very sustainable.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
