The Debt Trap In Nigeria: Towards a Sustainable Debt Strategy (review)

missions to Saudi Arabia before returning to Tamale to take up farming in 1986. He returned to politics in 1989, serving as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (1989–92) and Chairman of the Council of State (1992–2000) (Chapter 11). In 2000, Bawumia left the national political scene for the last time when he was elected Kpeli Naa, Paramount Chief of the Kperiga Division of Mamprugu. The chieftaincy brought Bawumia full circle, from his youth as a herdboy for his father to the chieftaincy of an important traditional area (Chapter 13). Reflecting on his life in the book’s conclusion, Bawumia presents a final defence of his political career: ‘I owe no apology to anybody for my politics’, he writes, ‘which I am satisfied, served my constituency and Ghana well’ (p. 276). To strengthen his defence, Bawumia includes excerpts from primary sources, including memoirs, press releases and official minutes, all of which seek to demonstrate his public service to Mamprugu and Ghana. Beyond defending his politics, however, Bawumia also presents his life as an example to the youth of the north to work for educational and agricultural development. To this end, Chapter 13 recapitulates Bawumia’s narrative with a specific moral purpose, a lesson to young northerners, through the example of the herdboy from Mamprugu who rose to become Chairman of the Council of State. Bawumia’s career path makes this an important memoir, and it deserves to be read in Ghana and beyond.