BY Daniel Bampoe
Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party for the 2028 presidential election, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has delivered a strong strategic message to the party’s Minority Caucus in Parliament, urging them to transition from post-election recovery into full preparation for a return to power in the 2028 general elections.
Addressing the NPP Minority MPs ahead of the resumption of parliamentary sittings, Dr. Bawumia declared that the period of healing and introspection following the party’s 2024 electoral defeat was over, insisting that the caucus must now operate with the mindset of a “government-in-waiting.”
The meeting forms part of broader efforts by the former Vice President to reorganize and reposition the NPP after his emphatic victory in the party’s presidential primary on January 31, 2026, where he secured 56.48 percent of valid votes cast to become the party’s presidential candidate for the 2028 elections.
Since his election, Dr. Bawumia has intensified engagements with party stakeholders including Minority MPs, former ministers, former MPs, diplomats, student leaders, religious organizations, and grassroots structures as part of attempts to rebuild party unity and restore public confidence in the NPP.
At the parliamentary engagement, Dr. Bawumia outlined what he described as four key pillars that should guide the conduct and strategy of the Minority Caucus moving forward.
“My reflection, there are four key things that I want you to have at the top of your minds as you return to the House,” he told the MPs on Wednesday.
“First, we are no longer healing. We are preparing to govern.”
According to him, every action, debate, statement, and parliamentary strategy undertaken by the caucus must now be aimed at convincing Ghanaians that the NPP remains the best alternative to govern the country again.
“We have finished the period of introspection. We must now position ourselves credibly as a party preparing to govern from January 7, 2029,” Dr. Bawumia stressed.
“From this session onward, every word we speak must answer one question in the mind of the ordinary Ghanaian: Can I trust the NPP to run the country again?”
The former Vice President urged the caucus to adopt a disciplined and coordinated approach in Parliament, insisting that the Minority’s handling of national issues must reflect strategic thinking, policy depth, and seriousness.
He noted that parliamentary debates, alternative policy proposals, private members’ bills, media engagements, and even decisions to boycott or abstain from proceedings should all be carefully calculated to project the NPP as a credible governing alternative.
“The positions we take on matters before the House, the alternative business we bring to the floor, the private members’ bills we choose to introduce, our comments to the press, and what we participate in, abstain from, or even boycott, must all be guided by one objective convincing the people of Ghana that they can trust us to do a better job than the NDC,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia also emphasized the need for evidence-based arguments, research-driven policy alternatives, and coordinated communication within the party.
“This means that our viewpoint on issues and policy must be built on strategy, careful research, and well-crafted messages before we walk into the chamber,” he added.
To support the parliamentary caucus, Dr. Bawumia disclosed that the party was establishing stronger sector-based structures and coordination mechanisms to ensure consistency in messaging and policy direction.
“I will be directly involved in supporting you achieve this,” he assured the MPs.
“The entire party is also building a strong architecture to support you through the sector committees, so we can sing from the same hymn sheet and act with a coordinated strategy at every point in time.”
The former Vice President further tasked the Minority MPs to aggressively defend and communicate the NPP’s record in government, arguing that many of Ghana’s transformative social intervention programmes were introduced under NPP administrations.
He cited flagship policies including the National Health Insurance Scheme, Free Senior High School, the School Feeding Programme, and the Youth Employment Programme as examples of the party’s achievements that should be consistently highlighted to the Ghanaian electorate.
“We need to remind Ghanaians that we are the party who introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme, the School Feeding Programme, the Free Senior High School policy, the Youth Employment Programme, to mention a few,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia maintained that the NPP remains the political tradition best positioned to safeguard Ghana’s future and deliver effective governance
He also praised the Minority Caucus for what he described as its resilience and strong performance in opposition since the NPP lost power in the 2024 general elections.
“You have been the last line of defence and glimmer of hope for the Ghanaian,” he told the MPs.
“You have stood and defended our nation and party to everyone’s admiration, earning you the accolade ‘the mighty minority’. Well done, well done, well done.”
However, he reminded the caucus that the role of the Minority extends beyond simply opposing government policies, describing Parliament’s opposition bloc as a critical pillar of democratic accountability.
“In opposition, the Minority caucus is not a spectator,” Dr. Bawumia stressed.
“You are the first line of accountability, the first line of policy scrutiny, and the first line of reassurance to citizens who are beginning to ask whether the promises made to them were carefully thought through or merely crafted for campaign applause and deception.”
The former Vice President concluded by expressing confidence in the abilities, experience, and political instincts of the NPP lawmakers, encouraging them to remain united and focused on the ultimate goal of returning the party to power in 2028.
“I believe in this caucus. I believe in your intellect, your courage, your experience, your political instincts, and above all, your love for NPP and Ghana,” he stated.
