Nana Ohene Ntow, a former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has claimed that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been wrongly praised for the Paperless Port innovation.
He said that the real innovator behind the Paperless Port was Alan Kyerematen, a hopeful candidate for the NPP flagbearer position. He added that it was important to acknowledge Mr. Kyerematen’s contributions to the NPP government’s achievements.
Mr. Ohene Ntow, who is also the Senior Advisor on strategy and operation for the Alan Kyerematen campaign, highlighted that the ex-Trade Minister was the brains behind several innovations that the current government is known for.
“He initiated the digitalization of the port clearance processes, which was one of his first actions to facilitate the clearance of goods,” Mr. Ohene Ntow told Umaru Sanda Amadu, adding that, “the record is there. You can verify with Customs and the Ghana Port and Harbours Authority, these were initiatives under the Ministry of Trade.”
When asked if Dr Bawumia should not be recognized in any way for the paperless port, Mr Ohene Ntow said “No, [the recognition] has been misplaced. The paperless port system was implemented at Ghana’s main ports in September 2017 by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) together with GCNET and West Blue Consulting, following a pilot”
According to Mr. Ohene Ntow, among the contenders for leadership of the party in the 2024 polls, Alan Kyerematen is the most credible candidate. He believes that Ghana needs a leader who understands the country’s problems and has a proven track record.
“Ghana’s situation is not about NPP or NDC, it’s about someone who knows what it takes to lead. Alan is the person who understands Ghana’s problems and has shown it by his track record.
“Based on what I know about all the personalities vying to be president of Ghana, I mean their backgrounds and track records, Alan is most credible to lead Ghana. From what is going on now in the country, Alan Kyerematen is the man to get Ghana out of the woods,” the former NPP General Secretary stated.
