Bawumia pledges collaborative efforts with Ga Mantse to address challenges in Ga State

The Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has assured the Ga Mantse and the Ga Traditional Council of his commitment to work closely with them to address the unique challenges facing the Ga State and Ghana at large.

During a courtesy visit to the Ga Mantse as part of his campaign activities, Dr Bawumia expressed gratitude for the counsel he has received and outlined his policies to tackle key issues affecting the region. 

Highlighting the peculiar challenges stemming from hosting Ghana’s capital city, he said he would prioritise resolving land disputes, improving access to education and jobs, and addressing the decline of the Ga language.

“The Ga State hosts the capital of Ghana. Because of that, the rest of Ghana is here, which has implications for the Ga State, which we have to take account of in policy,” Dr. Bawumia stated. He noted that the demand for land in Accra has made it difficult for indigenes to secure affordable property, describing it as a “major issue we have to deal with.”

Dr. Bawumia also underscored the strain on educational opportunities and job availability due to the city’s cosmopolitan nature, saying, “Because everybody is here, the schools have limited places for the people and limited jobs too.”

In addition, the Vice President raised concerns about the diminishing use of the Ga language, emphasising the need for targeted interventions. “Most of us who are here can survive without speaking Ga. So that leads to a decline in the language. We have to make sure that Ga is taught in our schools to protect the language. Otherwise, it is going to be very costly,” he explained.

Dr. Bawumia assured the Ga Mantse that he would engage directly with the Traditional Council to resolve land disputes between the Ga State and the government. “I am promising you that as President, I’ll sit down with you, and we will resolve these issues,” he pledged, adding that hosting the capital “should not be to your disadvantage.”

The Ga Mantse welcomed Dr. Bawumia’s proposals, acknowledging their alignment with the council’s vision for the region. Dr Bawumia also presented plans to amend the Chieftaincy Act to restore more authority to traditional rulers.