–BY Issah Olegor
Former Vice President and 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has strongly pushed back against internal criticisms suggesting that his religious background was a major reason for the party’s defeat in the last general election.
Speaking at a high-level meeting with NPP constituency chairpersons in Kumasi, Dr. Bawumia declared that he would not hesitate to step aside from the 2028 flagbearership race if credible evidence showed that his Muslim faith caused the party’s loss.
He, however, insisted that all independent reports and data from the 2024 elections show that religion played no role in voter behavior.
“If, in fact, that was the case, I wouldn’t have gotten accepted at all,” Dr. Bawumia said in reference to claims that his religion was a liability to the NPP.
“And even if it was true, I would have accepted the fact—because I’m not a selfish person. I value this party more than myself. I will not jeopardize our 2028 victory.”
His comments were a direct response to accusations from fellow NPP flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, who claimed that Christian leaders campaigned against Bawumia in 2024 solely because of his Islamic identity.
According to Kennedy Agyapong, this led many Christian voters to reject the NPP.
Interestingly Kennedy Agyapong lost the NPP parliamentary seat in Assin Central to Assin Fosu Zongo Muslim NDC candidate, Nurein Shaibu Migyimah for the first time in several years, indicating strongly that religion was not a factor.
But Dr. Bawumia dismissed the claims as not only false, but dangerous for the party’s unity and future.
“Very important that we don’t allow people to come in with explanations that are not factual, that are made up, and that divide our party,” he said.
“We are a united party made up of people from all ethnic groups, all religions. We are one big NPP family.”
He stressed that Ghana’s democratic history has never shown religion to be a determining factor in elections, citing multiple past leaders across faiths who both won and lost elections without their religion being questioned.
“When President Kufuor lost, did we say it was because he was a Christian? When President Mills lost, did anyone blame his religion? Why now?” he asked.
“People are trying to make religion and tribe political tools. That is dangerous for our party.”
Dr. Bawumia’s intervention came during an important strategic caucus in Kumasi aimed at rebuilding party structures for the 2028 election.
The meeting was attended by top NPP figures, including Bryan Acheampong, Dr. Yaw Adutwum, and Kennedy Agyapong himself.
He used the occasion to not only call out religious scapegoating but to reiterate the urgent need for discipline and truth within the party ranks.
“People are going religious and tribal. That is very dangerous for the New Patriotic Party,” he warned.
“We must reject these narratives. The 2024 post-election reports have clearly stated that religion and tribe were not factors. These were not reasons we lost.”
Dr. Bawumia also defended the 4.7 million votes he garnered in the 2024 presidential election as clear evidence of nationwide support that cut across religious lines.
“Those votes were not from Muslims alone. They were from Ghanaians—Christians, Muslims, traditionalists—who believed in our message and vision,” he said.
In a strong appeal to party unity, Bawumia emphasized that the NPP must not allow internal politics to be derailed by fabricated divisions aimed at serving personal ambitions.
“I would never destroy this party just to advance myself. If the data said I was the problem, I would have left long ago. But that is not what the facts say,” he concluded.
