Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of Ghana, has secured the nomination of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to run for president in the 2024 election. He defeated three other contenders in a nationwide primary held on Saturday, November 4, 2023.
Bawumia, who has served as Vice President since 2017 under President Nana Akufo-Addo, received 61.43% of the votes cast by nearly 200,000 NPP delegates across 275 constituencies. His closest rival, Kennedy Agyapong, a member of parliament and a vocal critic of the government, garnered 37.41% of the votes. The other two candidates, former ministers Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Francis Adai Nimo, trailed behind with less than 1% each.
Bawumia, who is an economist and a former deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana, thanked the NPP supporters for their trust and confidence in him. He dedicated his victory to the grassroots members of the party and pledged to work hard to retain power in 2024. He also called for unity and cooperation among all NPP members, saying that the party’s success depends on their collective efforts.
Bawumia becomes the fourth flagbearer of the NPP since the party was reconstituted in the Fourth Republic in 1992, following Prof. Adu Boahen, John Agyekum Kufuor, and Nana Akufo-Addo. He is also the first person of northern descent and the first Muslim to lead the NPP, which has been traditionally dominated by politicians from the south and the Christian faith.
Bawumia’s nomination has been widely anticipated, as he has been seen as the heir apparent of Akufo-Addo, who is serving his second and final term as president. Bawumia has been instrumental in implementing the government’s flagship policies, such as the free senior high school program, the digitalization of the economy, and the stabilization of the currency. He has also been praised for his eloquence and charisma, as well as his ability to appeal to different segments of the electorate, especially the youth and the religious minorities.
However, Bawumia’s nomination was not without challenges and controversies. He faced a strong opposition from Agyapong, who accused him of being corrupt and incompetent. Agyapong also claimed that Bawumia was not loyal to the party and that he had a hidden agenda to Islamize Ghana. Agyapong, who is known for his outspokenness and his media influence, mobilized a significant number of delegates to support his bid, but he fell short of defeating Bawumia.
Another setback for Bawumia was the defection of Alan Kyerematen, a former trade and industry minister and a long-time rival of Akufo-Addo. Kyerematen, who had contested for the NPP flagbearer position three times before, announced his exit from the party shortly before the primary. He accused the party leadership of rigging the process in favor of Bawumia and of sidelining him and his supporters. He formed his own party, the Movement for Unity, and declared his intention to run for president in 2024.
Bawumia’s nomination sets the stage for a fierce and historic presidential race in 2024, as he is expected to face off with former president John Mahama, who has already been confirmed as the flagbearer of the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). This will be the first time that both the NPP and the NDC will be represented by candidates from the northern part of Ghana, which has been a swing region in previous elections. It will also be the first time that a Muslim candidate will compete for the highest office in the predominantly Christian country.
Bawumia has expressed confidence that he will defeat Mahama and lead the NPP to a third consecutive term in power. He has vowed to continue the legacy of Akufo-Addo and to deliver more development and prosperity to the people of Ghana. He has also promised to run a clean and issue-based campaign, and to promote peace and harmony among all Ghanaians.
Source: Graphic Online
