In a bid to rally the New Patriotic Party (NPP) around a united front following the party’s 2024 electoral defeat, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the party’s presidential candidate, has extended a call to all party stalwarts—especially his former primary rivals—to join him on a nationwide Thank You Tour.
Speaking at the launch of the tour on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the NPP’s National Headquarters in Accra, Dr. Bawumia stressed that the gesture was aimed at fostering reconciliation and unity at all levels of the party.
“Because I want us to be united, that is why I am departing from the normal Thank You Tour,” he declared.
“Normally, the presidential candidate just goes ahead to do the thank you tour. But I am doing it different this time, and it is because I want unity.”
Dr. Bawumia, who emerged as the party’s flagbearer with 61.43% of the votes in the November 2023 primaries, defeated notable figures including former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, and former Agriculture Minister Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.
Alan Kyerematen who was in the race quickly pulled out knowing that he was not the choice of the delegates, forming his own party, the Movement for Change to contest the election.
He had a paltry 30,000 votes, in the presidential election, dealing him a fatal blow.
Now, Dr Bawumia is seeking to bridge those divisions by asking them to join him in a show of party cohesion.
“That is why I have said that I want to go with the party and also to invite my former contestants in the primaries to come, and we will all go and do the Thank You Tour together… so that we all show a united front for the party, then we can build on it going forward.”
He was emphatic that the current focus must shift from internal rivalry to national victory. “It is not time for primaries and it is not about winning a primary. What we are doing is building a party machinery that can win the general election. If you win the primary and cannot win the general election, then it is a useless victory.”
Delaying for Reflection and Reform
Dr. Bawumia also explained that the delay in starting the tour was strategic, intended to allow the Mike Oquaye-led Election Review Committee to complete and present its post-election report.
“I delayed the Thank You Tour to allow the Mike Oquaye report to be concluded,” he said, expressing satisfaction with the work of the committee.
Praising the committee’s findings, he stated, “This report is not just a document; it is a call to action. The recommendations contained in it are timely and necessary for the rejuvenation of our great party.”
He described the report as a “comprehensive and honest assessment” of the party’s 2024 campaign—highlighting both accomplishments and failings—and credited it as the foundation for the next chapter of internal reform.
“If we are to retain the confidence of Ghanaians and inspire a new generation of patriots, then we must be bold in implementing these reforms,” Dr. Bawumia said, citing proposed improvements such as enhanced transparency in internal elections, more effective communication channels, and increased youth engagement.
He emphasized the importance of wide consultation in shaping the report’s outcomes.
“The findings were not done in a vacuum—they reflect what our party members, from the grassroots to the top, are saying,” he said.
Platform for Unity and Renewal
The nationwide tour, slated to cover all 16 regions, will not merely serve as a gesture of gratitude but as a platform for reaffirming the party’s values and direction.
Themed “In All Things, Give Thanks to God” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), it also embodies the party’s spiritual resilience in the face of adversity.
Dr. Bawumia concluded his remarks with a heartfelt rallying call: “Let us embrace the spirit of renewal. Let us stand together, united by our values, and move forward as one NPP – stronger and more determined than ever before.”
The launch event drew the attendance of key party executives, regional leaders, youth organizers, and grassroots coordinators—offering a symbolic preview of what the tour aims to accomplish: a revitalized and unified NPP, prepared for the battles ahead.
