George Twum-Barima Adu Announces Nyaaba-Aweeba Azongo as Vice Presidential Candidate for 2024 Ghana Elections

Accra: Independent presidential candidate George Twum-Barima Adu has chosen Nyaaba-Aweeba Azongo, a renowned development consultant, as his vice-presidential running mate for the Ghana 2024 elections. The announcement marks the completion of Twum-Barima Adu's ticket as he prepares to contest in the upcoming national election. According to Ghana News Agency, the selection of Mr. Azongo was detailed in a statement issued by Mr. Twum-Barima Adu, where he emphasized Mr. Azongo's extensive experience and contributions to development consultancy both in Ghana and globally. Highlights of Mr. Azongo's career include his role in establishing the Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organization (SMIDO), which is recognized internationally as a model for cluster development in informal economic sectors worldwide. Mr. Twum-Barima Adu expressed his longstanding admiration for Mr. Azongo's work since 2006, noting his significant insights into global development issues. He cited these qualifications as central to his de cision to invite Mr. Azongo onto his presidential ticket. The statement further criticized the current political environment in Ghana, describing it as a series of "political circuses" dominated by the major parties, NPP and NDC, and emphasized the need for leaders capable of addressing Ghana's pressing development and environmental challenges. Mr. Azongo's academic credentials include an Mphil in Development Planning and a Bachelor of Science degree from KNUST. His professional journey also includes a consultancy role with the National House of Chiefs from 2003 to 2011, where he published influential works on Chieftaincy and Development. His publication in 2011, titled 'System Approach to Development Planning in the Chieftaincy Sector', has been widely cited by key figures in development discussions within Ghana. Further adding to his professional stature, Mr. Azongo was selected by Daasebre Professor (Emeritus) Oti-Boateng to review his publications on development, and he played a significant role in laun ching these works in 2019. His development of the 'Root-based Economic Development (r-BED) model' has received international recognition and accolades, including an award from the State University of New York. In addition to his development work, Mr. Azongo founded the Save Your Liver Foundation, which is the first organization of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa dedicated to liver health advocacy, raising awareness and influencing health policy across the continent.