Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the 2024 presidential candidate of Ghana’s ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called on party delegates to retain him as flagbearer for the 2028 elections, asserting that political consistency offers the party its best chance of reclaiming the presidency.
Speaking to delegates in the Adansi Asokwa constituency of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, Bawumia leaned heavily on electoral trends in Ghana’s Fourth Republic, pointing to a pattern of political parties reaping long-term rewards from sticking with familiar candidates.
“The data speaks for itself,” Bawumia said. “Every president since 1992 has handed over power to a candidate he had previously faced in an earlier election. The lesson is clear—consistency in candidacy builds recognition and trust with voters.”
Bawumia cited historical examples across party lines. The late President John Atta Mills, he noted, lost elections in 2000 and 2004 before winning in 2008. President Nana Akufo-Addo, similarly, lost in 2008 and 2012 before securing victory in 2016. John Mahama, after consecutive losses in 2016 and 2020, returned in 2024 to win again.
“This shows that both the NDC and NPP have benefitted from continuity,” Bawumia said. “Changing candidates every election cycle puts us at a disadvantage. I am the most marketed, tested, and recognized face the party has.”
Bawumia, who served as Vice President from 2017 to 2025, argued that no newcomer in Ghana’s recent political history has won a first-time presidential bid. “The data shows no first-timer has ever won a presidential election in Ghana. The electorate favors the familiar,” he told delegates.
The former Vice President’s remarks come at the onset of a three-day tour of the Ashanti Region, a traditional NPP stronghold, aimed at rallying support among party executives ahead of the party’s next flagbearer contest scheduled for January 31, 2026.
Campaign officials say Bawumia’s engagements are designed to formally inform constituency executives of his intent to visit their polling stations and meet grassroots delegates in the coming months.
Touting his record, temperament, and broad appeal, Bawumia positioned himself as the unifying figure capable of leading the NPP back to power in 2028—after what he framed as a temporary setback in the 2024 polls.
“In a polarized political environment, I bring unity. In a competitive electoral landscape, I bring visibility and voter trust,” he said. “There’s no doubt that I remain the NPP’s quickest path back to Jubilee House.”
The pitch comes as internal party dynamics begin to shift in anticipation of the next electoral cycle. While no major challenger has declared intentions to contest Bawumia for the flagbearership, the months ahead could test the party’s resolve to rally around a familiar face—or seek a new path.
Source:TheDotNews