Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia has discussed his early years in life.
He described the difficult situations he encountered while growing up and in college and expressed gratitude for the arduous journey that brought him to this point.
Dr. Bawumia revealed that he was only able to cover the cost of one term’s worth of tuition during his time as an undergraduate at the esteemed University of Oxford.
He turned to working as a taxi driver and dormitory cleaner to make ends meet. Despite these difficulties, he persisted and eventually finished his studies.
“It has not been an easy journey. It has taken a lot of hard work, discipline, and patience to get here. I walked to school growing up in Moshie Zongo in Tamale. I have been a day worker on farms during holidays in secondary school, a warehouse boy even after finishing university, and a minicab driver. I was only able to pay fees for one term during my studies at Oxford University and had to survive for the rest of my studies without paying fees, thanks to my College. I only settled my fees in arrears after I started work following the completion of my Ph.D. in Canada. I have also been a cleaner of dormitories in my university days in Canada,” Dr. Bawumia said.
He has a profound understanding of the struggles faced by many Ghanaians as a result of his difficult upbringing.
Dr. Bawumia emphasized his dedication to helping society’s underprivileged and marginalized people.
“I care about the poor, the vulnerable, and the excluded. I care about the Lepers, the sick, sickle cell sufferers, cancer patients, the disabled, Kayayei, street children, and the unemployed among others. This is the true essence of life – to address the problems of the weakest among us and to help them lift themselves,” he stated.
He emphasized his commitment and integrity in previous roles, including his position as Deputy Governor at the Bank of Ghana and his current role as Vice President, and expressed his firm belief in the value of hard work and the advantages it brings.
