MSP430FR6889: Communicating over UART FTDI adaptor

Hello,

I am trying to write a program based on few information collected form different forum posts and some example codes. At this point I am able to directly send a ASCII value over UART but if I use the "printf" function nothing happens. At the end I want to send a few sensor data over UART. I would really appreciate it if someone can help me solve this issue. Here is my code:

#include <msp430.h>
#include "driverlib.h"
#include "NcApi.h"
#include "NeoParser.h"
#include "DSPLib.h"
#include <gpio.h>
#include <intrinsics.h> //
#include <stdint.h> //
#include <stdio.h> //


#define ENABLE_PINS     0xFFFE      // Required to use inputs and outputs
#define UART_CLK_SEL    0x0080      // Specifies accurate clock for UART peripheral
#define BR0_FOR_9600    0x34        // Value required to use 9600 baud
#define BR1_FOR_9600    0x00        // Value required to use 9600 baud
#define CLK_MOD         0x4911      // Microcontroller will "clean-up" clock signal
#define ACLK            0x0100      // Timer_A SMCLK source
#define UP              0x0010      // Timer_A UP mode

volatile int receiveData = 0;

void select_clock_signals(void);    // Assigns microcontroller clock signals
void assign_pins_to_uart(void);     // P4.2 is for TXD, P4.3 is for RXD
void use_9600_baud(void);           // UART operates at 9600 bits/second
void enable_TA0CTL(void);           // Enable the timer 0 counter
void set_timer0_count(int);

int main(void)
{
    WDTCTL = WDTPW | WDTHOLD;       // Stop WDT
    PM5CTL0 = ENABLE_PINS;          // Enable pins

    select_clock_signals();         // Assigns microcontroller clock signals
    assign_pins_to_uart();          // P4.2 is for TXD, P4.3 is for RXD
    use_9600_baud();                // UART operates at 9600 bits/second
    enable_TA0CTL();


    UCA0IE = UCRXIE;                // Enable RX interupt
    _BIS_SR(GIE);                   // Activate enabled UART RXD interrupt


    while(1)                      
    {
        static const int a=10;

            //UCA0TXBUF = 0x55;       // Send 0x55 out of P4.2
            printf("Reading samples\n");
            //printf("Reading samples %u\n",a);
    }
}

//*********************************************************************************
//* UART Interrupt Service Routine *
//* This is the ISR for both the TX interrupt and the RX interrupt *
//*********************************************************************************
#pragma vector=USCI_A0_VECTOR
__interrupt void UART_ISR(void)
{
    UCA0IFG = UCA0IFG & (~UCRXIFG); // Clear RX Interrupt FlaG
}
//*********************************************************************************
//* Select Clock Signals *
//*********************************************************************************
void select_clock_signals(void)
{
    CSCTL0 = 0xA500; // "Password" to access clock calibration registers
    CSCTL1 = 0x0046; // Specifies frequency of main clock
    CSCTL2 = 0x0133; // Assigns additional clock signals
    CSCTL3 = 0x0000; // Use clocks at intended frequency, do not slow them down
}
//*********************************************************************************
//* Used to Give UART Control of Appropriate Pins *
//*********************************************************************************
void assign_pins_to_uart(void)
{
    P4SEL1 = 0x00; // 0000 0000
    P4SEL0 = BIT3 | BIT2; // 0000 1100
    // ^^
    // ||
    // |+---- 01 assigns P4.2 to UART Transmit (TXD)
    // |
    // +----- 01 assigns P4.3 to UART Receive (RXD)
}
//*********************************************************************************
//* Specify UART Baud Rate *
//*********************************************************************************
void use_9600_baud(void)
{
    UCA0CTLW0 = UCSWRST; // Put UART into SoftWare ReSeT
    UCA0CTLW0 = UCA0CTLW0 | UART_CLK_SEL; // Specifies clock source for UART
    UCA0BR0 = BR0_FOR_9600; // Specifies bit rate (baud) of 9600
    UCA0BR1 = BR1_FOR_9600; // Specifies bit rate (baud) of 9600
    UCA0MCTLW = CLK_MOD; // "Cleans" clock signal
    UCA0CTLW0 = UCA0CTLW0 & (~UCSWRST); // Takes UART out of SoftWare ReSeT
}

void enable_TA0CTL(void)
{
    TA0CTL = ACLK | UP;             // Set ACLK, UP MODE
    TA0CCTL0 = CCIE;                // Enable interrupt for Timer_0
}
void set_timer0_count(int x)
{
    TA0CCR0 = x;                        //Used to set the timer0 counter
}

If I uncomment line 48 and 49 nothing shows up on the serial terminal. It only works when I uncomment line 47 and comment line 48 and 49.

Thanks.