The Vice President of Ghana, H.E. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, speaks to the Times of Africa, one of India’s largest news outlets, on Ghana-India relations ahead of the 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership.
The Vice-President of one of the most prosperous countries on the African continent, H.E. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, landed in New Delhi, India, on Saturday 16th March, 2019, for the 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership. He was received by the High Commissioner of Ghana, H.E. Mr. Michael Aaron N. N. Oquaye Esq (Jnr) along with a high-powered delegation of the host country.
In his first-ever visit to India, The Times of Africa, had the honour to have an exclusive interaction with the Honourable Vice-President minutes after his arrival. With insights deep like the ocean and a persona as calm as the sea, the esteemed dignitary passionately spoke about strengthening bilateral partnership between India and Ghana, the emerging forces of the global economy.
TOI: What are your expectations from the event?
H.E.MB: I would like to start by thanking the Government of India for organizing this Conclave. It is a wonderful endeavor to deepen the cooperation between India and Africa, especially in the area of economic relations. I expect that we will deepen our cooperation in specific areas and this particular conclave would be productive in that direction.
Ghana has had immensely productive relations with India. Some of the projects that we have been able to do have come out of this conclave over the years.
TOI: What are the priority sectors in which the Government of Ghana would like to collaborate with the Indian business community?
H.E.M.B: Accompanying me are a number of business delegates from Ghana. The Ghanaians will meet the Indians and the Indians will meet the Ghanaians. We have many areas of potential cooperation between our respective business communities and the Government as well.
India has an expertise in the area ICT. Ghana, too, is focused on moving towards a digital economy.
Healthcare and pharmaceuticals are other promising areas. A number of Ghanaians are making use of the Indian healthcare system. We would like to set up similar kind of medical institutions that are present in India.
Ghana is moving towards becoming the pharmaceutical hub of West Africa. Our business people will be very well-positioned to have productive engagements in these areas.
Agriculture, oil and gas, too, have room for cooperation between India and Ghana.
TOI: The President of Ghana, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo has launched a number of initiatives, including ‘One District, One Factory’. What kind of alliance are you looking from India in order to give boost to the manufacturing strength of Ghana?
H.E.M.B: From Ghana’s point of view, the reason why President Nana Akufo-Addo has set this target of industrialization is because we can’t become a primary commodity producing nation without adding value to our resources.
We are looking at the quest for industrialization from different angles. ‘One District, One Factory’ encapsulates this agenda for every district – all 254 of them.
There must be a commodity to which you can add value –small or large. In agro-processing for example, we are encouraging the private sector to come in and set factories and giving them incentives for the same.
We are also encouraging the setting up of pharmaceutical and automotive industries.
We are on an industrialization drive; we want to add value to every commodity such as minerals by setting up refineries for gold, bauxite, iron and steel.
We have an ambitious agenda to industrialize and add value to every resource. Since India has a lot of experience in industrialization, we believe that the nation can help us fulfill our dream of industrializing Ghana.
TOI: Farmers in Ghana are increasingly becoming aware about the technology-driven innovations that can help them get a higher produce. In order to build upon this awareness, are you seeking any technology-transfer from India?
H.E.M.B: Absolutely! For us agriculture is key. 60-70% of our population is engaged in agriculture. So, if we are going to need that leap for transformation, agricultural productivity must increase.
Today, you cannot get that without the application of technology.
A lot of farmers lack information on different things. All the necessary information such as the prices of products in different markets, the right kind of fertilizer, and so on can be delivered on your mobile phone.
In Ghana, we have developed a digital addressing system, which allows every five by five square meter of land or water to be uniquely identified. It is operational now. You can reach any farm by using its digital address. This innovation was developed by Ghanaians.
The use of technology can, therefore, allow the farmers to have access to inputs and much more.
TOI: Your closing remarks on your visit to India!
H.E.M.B: This is my first time in India, so I am really looking forward to this visit. I have come with a team of ministers as well as businesspersons.
We have had long, productive and warm relations with India right from the time of independence. There is deep affection between the two countries. The strong foundation of our bilateral relations was laid by India's first Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, and Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The two great leaders also enjoyed a close friendship.
During this visit, we want to deepen our economic relations with India. We want to go beyond aid and focus on trade and investment.
This conclave is very consistent in our ambition and will prove to be mutually beneficial.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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I want to believe Dr Fundamentals Bawuliar is granting interview to answer 170 question. Typical shithole vice on paper. chicken black will always be black no shame no apology. having phd and a liar is not the solution to the countries problems. Common sense approach and careful thought strategies will help resolve issues and not adopting strategies used in different countries. Different countries have different problems and the approach should not be the same. Finally mr vice, do not compare crocodile to cassava because they all begin with the letter C.
Its good to have these engagements but if we look within the wider African continent, we will be amazed the kind of synergies that can be built. All the ingredients are present and available and by ;averaging them effectively, we should be able to build the Africa we want. In Nigeria, for example, there's enough fertilizer that could be produced in Nigeria. You go to Eritrea there's enough fertilizer-potash that we could get from there to meet our agricultural needs. You go the South of Africa, there's diamonds, which we need to mine, cut and add value for industrial and jewelry industries. What kind of linkages and synergies are we building from the ground up to support the kind of Africa We Want? Our leaders need to come together and sit down and look at their competitive and comparative advantages and combine their efforts together, through partnerships and move with a single-minded sense of purpose, and will be amazed at the kind of progress they will achieve in the shortest possible time. Its time for local content in terms of the wider continent to be entrenched, to make it easier for such external partnerships to flourish in a win-win situation.
Awwww Ben, you are really a genius..you say all...youve hit the Nail right on its head. i even wonder wonder why People Still refer to Him as the Vice President of Ghana. Someone who knows close to nothing about Government. if you manage the Economy with text books, your interest Rates will expose you...Here you are Mr. So Called Vice President. Over to you. 2020 is just Close to you. we are Patiently Waiting for your next Lecture. Any idea when it will be ??? Rubbbish
Is this liar still the vice president of Ghana? I thought he has resigned. Considering the noise he made before the npp came to power one would have thought he would have spoken louder than in opposition to prove to Ghanaians that he knows his job, but the opposite is the case, because he doesn't have any competence in economic management. Today his own president has no confidence in him so ofori atta, osafo maafo and paul acquah are managing the economy whiles he is doing zongo and ICT business. Instead of talking about cedi depreciation, he is granting interview India about bilateral relationship.