Dr Mahamudu Bawumia remains the most compelling choice to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into the future, despite the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections. Several factors explain why he still stands ahead of his rivals.
1. Tested, Known, and Politically Marketed
In electoral politics, experience and visibility matter. Dr Bawumia has already been tested nationally. Even under the weight of widespread public anger against the Akufo-Addo administration, he secured nearly 42% of the presidential vote in 2024—almost 5 million votes.
Significantly, while Bawumia performed relatively strongly, the NPP’s parliamentary showing dropped to 32%, indicating that voters punished the party more than the candidate. He also delivered the NPP’s only presidential win in Northern Ghana, sweeping his North East Region without losing parliamentary seats.
Compared to his closest rival, Kennedy Agyapong—who lost both the presidential and parliamentary contests in his home constituency and region—Bawumia remains the most electorally viable option for 2028 or 2032.
2. Commitment to Party Unity and National Stability
At a time when internal tensions threatened the cohesion of the NPP after the 2024 elections, Dr Bawumia demonstrated restraint and leadership by conceding defeat early, even before official results were declared.
While some party members criticised this decision, it helped prevent unrest and preserved national peace. This act reflected a willingness to put collective interest above personal ambition, marking him out as a unifier capable of holding the party together.
3. He Has Paid His Political Dues
Although critics label him an outsider, Bawumia’s long-standing service to the NPP undermines that claim. He testified publicly during the 2012 election petition, exposing himself to intense scrutiny at great personal risk.
In 2016, he and his wife, Samira, bore the brunt of opposition attacks while campaigning vigorously for the party. Though he has since been blamed for unfulfilled promises, many others who benefited from the 2016 victory—through ministerial appointments, contracts, or parliamentary seats—have escaped similar criticism. His contribution to the party’s success cannot be dismissed.
4. History Supports a Comeback
Ghana’s political history shows that electoral defeat does not permanently disqualify candidates. Atta Mills, Akufo-Addo, and John Mahama all lost multiple elections before eventually winning the presidency.
Bawumia’s 2024 loss fits this historical pattern. With nearly five million votes already secured, he has a strong base to build on, placing him in familiar and successful company.
5. Shared Responsibility for Economic Failures
While Bawumia, as Vice President and chair of the Economic Management Team, bears collective responsibility for the administration’s economic challenges, he was not alone.
Several of his main challengers—Kennedy Agyapong, Bryan Acheampong, and Osei Yaw Adutwum—were Members of Parliament who approved key economic policies, including the unpopular E-Levy. With the NPP’s razor-thin parliamentary majority, any single MP voting against the levy could have blocked it.
Apart from Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, most contenders are therefore equally, if not more, implicated in the decisions that led to public dissatisfaction.
6. The “Akufo-Addo Puppet” Argument Is Weakening
The claim that Bawumia would merely extend Akufo-Addo’s influence lacks historical backing. Past leaders, such as Atta Mills, demonstrated independence from their predecessors.
Additionally, indications suggest President Akufo-Addo has adopted a more neutral stance in the current contest, weakening arguments that Bawumia would be controlled or constrained if elected.
7. Superior Message Discipline
Among the contenders, Bawumia has consistently articulated the most coherent and structured message—across party primaries, national elections, and the current race. While not all his promises are flawless, his policy clarity and communication remain unmatched within the field.
Source: myjoyonline.com
