GhanaWeb Feature by Etsey Atisu
The last time someone in his forties was president of Ghana, was in 1992, when the late former Head of State, Flt. Lt, Jerry John Rawlings, became the first president of the fourth republic of Ghana.
As a young 45-year-old Airforce soldier-pilot, he left his mark as a force to be reckoned with, giving Ghana its most stable republic since independence in 1957, but since then, not so many people in that age bracket have been successful at becoming Head of State.
But there is a young, daring, and ambitious man who is confident that with all the work that he has done, being able to rally the youth behind his vision, he can give Ghana its next youthful president.
Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar or Freedom Jacob Caesar, is the brain behind the New Force Movement and he is confident he can cause a major shake in the political landscape of Ghana on December 7, 2024, when the nation goes to the polls.
Seated at Number 12 on the ballot papers, Cheddar ultimately wants to work towards a United States of Africa, with a cooked-up plan of a $50,000 Citizenship by Investment program aimed at raising a whopping $50 billion for Ghana’s economy.
The 44-year-old is also convinced that he is the man to actually retire all the 60+ candidates in the race, regardless of the fact that these same ‘retirees’ head the biggest political parties in Ghana; the same two parties that have ruled Ghana since the dawn of the fourth republic.
But what is Cheddar’s vision for Ghana?
On September 1, 2024, the leader of the New Force Movement, Nana Kwame Bediako, launched his manifesto for the 2024 presidential election.
The manifesto, dubbed ‘12 Pillars for Economic Freedom,’ detailed Cheddar’s policies and plans to help Ghana get out of its current hardships and eventually achieve economic liberation.
They are:
Run a government of only 12 ministers
Cheddar promised to run the leanest government in Ghana’s history with only 12 ministers if elected president on December 7, 2024.
His ‘Apostolic Government’ would have the following ministries: Finance, Trade, Education, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Sports and Business Development, Health, Justice, Energy, Business and Employment, Defence, and Tourism. he stated.
Raise $50 billion by monetising Ghanaian citizenship
The presidential hopeful also indicated that the major source of funds for his government would be selling Ghanaian citizenship.
He indicated that this would help the country raise $50 billion, which would be a solution to Ghana’s problems.
He explained that his government would come up with an immigration package to monetise Ghana’s citizenship.
This initiative, he also indicated, would be the starting point of having a United States of Africa.
“We [Ghana] will be the first people to start the project USA – United States of Africa, by people joining us [Ghana] and we welcoming them through our borders but also, they will also be investing on our land.”
Ghana would print its own currency
He also pledged to move the country away from engaging foreign countries when it comes to printing currency notes if given the nod in the pending presidential elections.
He argued that Ghana does not need to source the printing of its currency to firms operating in countries like Switzerland, Belarus, England, and others.
“What happens to the industrial power that we are creating now? We are going to print money on our own. We don’t need to go to America or England to print money.
“We don’t need to go anywhere else to buy food and bring it here. We don’t need to pay seven times the taxes of what is already in our country, packaged by someone else at a premium price, and bring it back here. That stops because we are going to create them here,” Nana Kwame Bediako said.
Change SSNIT into National Insurance Fund
The leader of the New Force also promised to change the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to the National Insurance Fund.
Under the National Insurance Fund, he said contributors can go for their monies at any time.
Establish a National Sovereign Wealth Fund, the new IMF
Cheddar also stated that he would establish a National Sovereign Wealth Fund which would help the country stop borrowing and free it from the International Monetary Fund.
“We are going to create the National Sovereign Wealth Fund; this is the new IMF. Well, at this very point, Ghana will help me launch the new IMF. Because verbally it is said but physically and mentally, we are about to implement it. This pillar is a new policy and it will disrupt and dissolve but eventually, it will rebuild our heritage value.
“In the past, our minerals have been extracted and exported for pennies, we are ending it. The National Sovereign Wealth Fund is the new IMF, independent and autonomous. It will collect every reserve and will keep it and protect it.”
Construct Ghana’s first water transportation
Cheddar also proposed the creation of a water transport system as a solution to Ghana’s transport system.
This, he believes, would help expand the country’s transport system and allow for ease and cheaper transportation of persons, goods, and services.
His other objective for the transport sector would be to construct an 8000KM railway line across the country.
Build a food reserve to serve Ghana for the next 100 years
The founder of the New Force also stated that his government, under an ‘Agro Reserves’ programme, would capitalise on the arable lands of the country to establish the biggest seedling bank.
He indicated that this would help Ghana in terms of food security for 100 years and be able to also supply to the world.
“We intend to build the biggest seedling bank and have food security for 100 years. It is called Agro Reserves. That is what we need, we will nurture this, we would actually feed this,” he noted.
He also intends to create reserves for other resources of the country, including gold and cocoa, which would be used for the country’s development. Create an Energy City
Cheddar also promised to make Ghana a tech hub, build a nuclear power plant, and construct a renewable energy infrastructure.
“We are going to create an energy city that is fit to power all industries. No energy, no technology. Ghana needs a technology hub and that’s why we’re combining it with an energy city,” he stated.
Combine Industrication, Industrialisation and Education
He also promised to change the educational curriculum by leveraging skills that turn students into entrepreneurs and not job seekers.
He noted that his government would de-westernise Ghana’s education and have an educational system that would answer to the needs of the country’s industrial sector.
Build a National WEB3 platform
He also promised to build a National WEB3 platform and data centres which would empower Ghana to control information technology both locally and beyond.
He also stated he would migrate all statutory and national data to a blockchain platform to curb corruption.
“We aim to position ourselves as leaders in the global crypto farming industry. Our data centres will mine digital coins, engage in tokenisation, and mint coins, tapping into a multi-trillion-dollar industry. This will make Ghana the gateway to Africa’s Web3 industry in Africa,” he explained.
Build Hollywood studios
Cheddar also promised to build studios in the country to help with the development of the country’s creative art sector.
This, he believes, would help artistes own their catalogues, musicians earn reasonable royalties, and own the distribution and recording platforms!
Who is Nana Kwame Bediako?
Nana Kwame Bediako, widely known as Freedom Jacob Caesar or Cheddar, is a prominent Ghanaian entrepreneur, real estate developer, CEO of Kwarleyz Group, and philanthropist.
Nana Kwame Bediako (cheddar), the founder of Kwarleyz Group, was raised by his single mother in Kumasi, Ghana. Bediako felt that his mother instilled in him the essential qualities of discipline, hard work, integrity and strong Christian values that have led to his success as a visionary, developer, industrialist, and nation-builder.
As a result Kwarleyz Group’s name lies in Nana Bediako’s deep respect for his mother, Madame Elizabeth Adjei, affectionately known as Auntie Kwarley due to her remarkable resilience, warmth, and passion. Kwarleyz Group is actively realizing its vision for a New Africa through a network of closely linked specialty companies. These entities are committed to ambitious initiatives encompassing the development and construction of residential, commercial, and industrial real estate, the advancement of infrastructure projects, the creation of smart cities, strategic financial investments, and proficient property management across the West African region.
His life story is one of remarkable achievement and a commitment to transforming the real estate landscape in Ghana and contributing to the development of Africa as a whole. Nana Kwame Bediako’s entrepreneurial journey began at a young age when he started exploring business opportunities. He demonstrated a keen interest in real estate, which would become his primary focus later in life.
Early Life and Education
Born in Kumasi, Ghana, Bediako pursued his education at Accra Academy and later attended Apam Senior High School. Subsequently, he furthered his studies in Business Studies at Waltham Forest College in the UK. During his university days, Bediako found a source of income by selling clothes acquired from a friend. Quickly gaining popularity, he became the go-to supplier for clothing among his peers. With the money he earned, Bediako made shrewd investments, enabling him to purchase his first car at the age of 16. However, recurring frustrations arose as his car was repeatedly clamped. Following the third instance, Bediako, driven by frustration, took the clamp with him, and a friend expressed interest in buying it. This sparked the idea of entering the scrap metal business. Bediako began buying and reselling scrap metal. Inspired by this entrepreneurial breakthrough, he made the decision to drop out of school, feeling that the traditional education system had little more to offer him.
Transitioning from the scrap metal business, Bediako ventured into the telecommunications industry. Recognizing the growing popularity of the internet, he founded Global Telecommunications and Utilities (GTU), a company that billed individuals for their internet usage. GTU rapidly gained a substantial user base, catching the attention of an investor who subsequently acquired the company for £410,000. Following the sale, Bediako relocated to Ghana.
Entrepreneurial Journey in Ghana
Upon returning to Ghana in 2001 after his studies in the UK, he established Wonda World Entertainment, a venture specializing in artist management, collaborating with artists such as the rapper Scientific. His initial involvement in the entertainment sector eventually opened doors to ownership of the Accra nightclub, Temptations.
Wonda World Estates
After gaining experience in the nightclub industry, Bediako shifted his focus to the real estate business, initially concentrating on renting out units. Witnessing the growth of his venture, he made the strategic decision to venture into property development, giving rise to Wonda World Estates. In affluent neighborhoods of Accra, Bediako embarked on the construction of a series of distinctive buildings. Notably, the early structures from Wonda World Estates were characterized by a unique roof style. To distinguish these properties further, Bediako opted for a curved roof design reminiscent of the logo of the fashion brand Evisu. The success of his real estate endeavors paved the way for the construction of Avenue Lincoln.. Under his leadership, the company has undertaken numerous ambitious projects, ranging from residential properties to commercial developments. His vision was to revolutionize real estate in Ghana by creating modern, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing developments.
Petronia City
One of Nana Kwame Bediako’s most significant projects is Petronia City, located in the Western Region of Ghana. Petronia City is envisioned as a modern, integrated city with a focus on sustainability. It encompasses residential areas, commercial zones, and industrial spaces. The project aims to contribute significantly to Ghana’s economic growth by attracting investment and creating employment opportunities.
Philanthropy
Beyond his business endeavors, Bediako is known for his commitment to philanthropy. He has initiated several social responsibility projects aimed at uplifting underprivileged communities and providing access to education and healthcare services.
Awards and Recognition
Nana Kwame Bediako’s contributions to Ghana’s real estate sector have earned him numerous accolades and recognition. He is celebrated as a visionary leader who is reshaping the skyline of Ghana with his innovative developments.
Legacy: Nana Kwame Bediako’s legacy extends beyond his business achievements. He serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs in Ghana and Africa, demonstrating that with determination, hard work, and a commitment to excellence, one can achieve great success.
Political Ambition
In January, 2024 Jacob Ceaser has affirmed his willingness to guide Ghana and Africa with positive intentions and forward-thinking plans. Despite previously expressing a lack of interest in political positions, presidential roles, and power struggles, Cheddar asserts his dedication to utilizing Africa’s abundant natural resources for the comprehensive development of the entire continent.
Addressing the media in a press conference following the cancellation of the New Africa Foundation’s Convention, Nana Kwame Bediako stated that he firmly believes his purpose on earth is to contribute value to it. He emphasizes his commitment to this goal, declaring, “I am a son of the soil, and my mission is to enhance humanity. I came here to contribute value to this world and nature. I won’t depart without making God proud of me.”
Personal Life
Jacob Ceaser is Married to Ruby Bediako and together they have four children.
In summary, Nana Kwame Bediako’s a.k.a Freedom Jacob Caesar (cheddar) biography is a testament to his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a key figure in Ghana’s real estate industry.
His vision, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to improving living standards in Africa through innovative real estate developments have made him a respected and influential figure in both business and philanthropy.
