The 2024 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has appealed to party delegates to maintain him as the party’s flagbearer in order to secure a swift return to the Jubilee House.
Addressing delegates at Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, September 10, Dr. Bawumia argued that Ghana’s electoral history demonstrates that voters reward political parties that show consistency in their choice of presidential candidate.
He explained that data also suggests every outgoing president since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1993 has handed over to a candidate they had previously contested against.
Citing examples from both the NPP and the NDC, Dr. Bawumia urged delegates to retain him as the party’s torchbearer for the 2028 election, stressing that the NPP stands to benefit greatly from maintaining a candidate who has already been marketed to the electorate.
“It is very important that our party follows political consistency as we prepare for 2028. In 1996, NPP presented former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who obtained 39% votes. The Party presented him again in 2000, and he won. The late President Prof Atta Mills garnered 43% of the votes in 2000. NDC presented him again in 2004, and he obtained 44%. They presented him again in 2008, and he won.
He stressed, “Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was presented in 2008, but he didn’t win. We presented him again in 2012; he didn’t succeed, but we presented him again in 2016, and he won.
“[President John Dramani Mahama was presented in 2016, and he lost. He was presented again in 2020, and he lost again. But they kept faith with him in 2024, and he won. This shows clearly that maintaining faith with a candidate over more than an election cycle pays, irrespective of the party.”
Commenting on the dynamics of Ghana’s elections, Dr. Bawumia said the NPP could secure victory in 2028 if the party contests with a united front.
“What is also remarkable in Ghana’s election history is that since 1992, every President has handed over to someone he had contested against in an earlier contest. Former President J.J. Rawlings handed over to former President J.A. Kufuor, whom he had contested against in 1996. Former President Kufuor handed over to Prof Mills, whom he contested against in 2000 and 2004.
He added, “President Mahama handed over to former President Akufo-Addo, whom he had contested against in 2012. Former President Akufo-Addo handed over to President Mahama. With President Mahama set to hand over in 2029, if the trend continues, there is no reason why it shouldn’t; he will be handing over to Dr. Bawumia. Unless we [NPP] present a new candidate, although the data also shows no first-timer has won Ghana’s Presidential elections.”
He noted that sticking with a candidate is advantageous, particularly after significant effort has been invested in marketing him.
“The trend shows that maintaining faith with a candidate is very beneficial, especially in marketing the flagbearer. I am the most marketed, prepared and winnable candidate among all the aspirants. No one in Ghana can say he or she has not heard of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. My character, temperament and unifying nature are well known. I urge you to vote for me on 31st January, 2026, to lock in the benefits of maintaining a Presidential candidate.”
Dr Bawumia made these observations at the beginning of his three-day engagement with Constituency Executives in the Ashanti Region ahead of a national campaign in the lead-up to the party’s flagbearer contest.
The engagements, according to officials of the Bawumia Campaign, are to provide an opportunity for the former Vice President to formally inform the Executives of his intention to visit their Constituencies and engage with the delegates at the Polling Station level.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
