Former Vice President and the 2024 candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on the party to select a leader who will foster unity instead of division as it gears up for the 2028 elections.
During his address at the NPP New York 33rd Anniversary celebration on Sunday, August 24, Dr. Bawumia emphasized that the party’s future achievements hinge on a leadership approach that strengthens its foundation and resonates with the broader Ghanaian electorate.
He stated that the NPP cannot afford to be engulfed by tribal or religious discourse that marginalizes segments of society.
“We require a leader whose approach brings people together, not one that creates divisions,” he asserted, highlighting that a leader should exhibit vision, humility, incorruptibility, resilience under pressure, and a strong track record. He contended that these are the attributes that are most significant to the Ghanaian voter.
Dr. Bawumia cautioned that negative campaigning within the NPP could undermine the party and provide its rivals, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with unwarranted leverage.
He stressed that the NPP should concentrate on critical issues such as the economy, tax reforms, agriculture, industry, infrastructure, and digitalization—the very topics outlined in its 2024 manifesto.
He reminded party members that the NPP’s disappointing performance in the previous general election was not attributable to ethnicity or religion, as some have incorrectly asserted, but rather due to widespread voter disengagement in its southern strongholds.
He referenced comprehensive data indicating that the NPP lost over 2 million votes between 2020 and 2024, primarily in regions like Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern.
Advocating for renewed discipline and focus, Dr. Bawumia stated that the NPP must revert to its foundational principles of inclusivity and unity in diversity.
“If we are divided and at odds with one another, none of us can lead this party to achieve its objectives. Tribalism and religious intolerance have no place in the NPP,” he remarked, encouraging party members to unite for success in 2028.
