BY Daniel Bampoe
Former Vice President, and 2024 Presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has made a strong case for his re-election as flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), declaring that the party does not need to gamble on a new face ahead of the 2028 presidential elections.
Instead, he insists his national popularity, long-standing service to the party, and experience as Vice President make him the most prepared candidate to lead the NPP back to power.
Dr. Bawumia made the remarks when he filed his nomination forms to contest in the party’s upcoming flagbearer race.
The contest, scheduled for January 31, 2026, will determine who leads the NPP into the 2028 polls after its electoral setback in 2024.
Household Name
According to the former Vice President, his widespread visibility across Ghana gives the NPP a head start over the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He reminded delegates that he had campaigned in every constituency, town, and village over the past 16 years, earning recognition that the party cannot afford to discard.
“There is no village or hamlet, no city or town where Mahamudu Bawumia’s face and name are not known,” he told supporters.
“If we are to win 2028, we ought not to start afresh from zero. Instead, we must build on the nearly 42 percent of valid votes and cross the 50 percent mark.”
Defending His Legacy in Office
Dr. Bawumia listed a number of initiatives he spearheaded during his tenure as Vice President, many of which he described as “first in Africa.”
These include the Gold for Oil policy, mobile money interoperability, the Ghana Card rollout, the digital property address system, paperless ports, one constituency–one ambulance, the Zongo Development Fund, and medical drone delivery services.
“These ideas are not theories; they are practical initiatives that have transformed lives,” he said.
“It is why many say I have been the most effective Vice President in Ghana’s history. If I can achieve this as Vice President, imagine what we can do together when I lead as President.”
Cautioning Against Internal Divisions
In a passionate appeal to party members, Dr. Bawumia warned against the growing trend of internal attacks and tribal or religious divisions within the NPP.
He cautioned that such behavior would only serve the NDC’s agenda in 2028.
“The repeated attacks by our own party folk on one another are absolutely unhelpful,” he said.
“What we say against each other is what the NDC will use against us. If you claim you are a true patriot and want this party to win in 2028, then stop the internal attacks now.”
Lessons from 2024 Defeat
The NPP lost the 2024 elections after two terms under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, with Dr. Bawumia as his deputy.
He admitted that the party’s achievements were overshadowed by economic challenges, which gave the NDC an advantage with “lofty promises.”
“We have learnt lessons from 2024,” Bawumia noted. “But already, it is evident the NDC does not intend to fulfill many of the promises they made to Ghanaians. We must prepare to hold them accountable while presenting a stronger, united NPP.”
Dr. Bawumia also outlined his policy vision, which he described as anchored on “rich ideas” to expand the economy and ease the cost of living.
Among his proposals are a flat tax system to simplify taxation, constituency-based development planning, enhanced access to credit, and a modern digital economy that benefits both the grassroots and vulnerable groups.
He also pledged to reward the loyalty of grassroots supporters, restore jobs lost under the NDC, and prioritize domestic production to reduce dependence on imports.
A Record Of Sacrifice
Dr. Bawumia concluded his address by recounting his long service to the party, including resigning from the Bank of Ghana in 2008 to support the NPP, leaving his African Development Bank job in 2012 to campaign, serving as the star witness in the 2013 election petition, and conceding defeat in 2024 to preserve peace.
“All my life, this party and this country have given me so much,” he said. “I have never hesitated to defend this party, even at great personal cost. With Mahamudu Bawumia as flagbearer, I shall not hesitate to put everything on the line again for the NPP and for Ghana.”
