Vice-President Bawumia concedes defeat - Urges party faithful to look into future with optimism

The flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has conceded defeat to former President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the country’s tightly contested presidential election.

“Let me say that the data from our own internal collation of the election results indicate that former President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has won the Presidential election decisively.”  

Dr Bawumia, however, assured the rank and file of the party that they would take stock of events that contributed to its loss in last Saturday’s poll and pick lessons to guide the future.

He has, therefore, encouraged members of the party to look into the future with optimism and hope.

“We may have lost the battle but not the war,” Dr Bawumia stated during a media briefing at his residence in the morning and indicated that while that was not the desired outcome of the poll for the party, it was part of the democratic process.

The Vice-President said although the party put its best foot forward in the contest and explained its policies and programmes, it was sometimes the case that the voter would have other ideas.

Dr Bawumia used the occasion to thank President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his support and guidance over the years and his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, for her support and wise counsel throughout his tenure as Vice-President and during the 2024 electioneering.

The NPP flag bearer again thanked his wife, Hajia Samira Bawumia, who he said had gone above the call of duty in her support for him.

The Vice-President also thanked former President Kufuor, the Council of Elders, Executives, Members of Parliament, particularly those on the side of the NPP, as well as the rank and file of the NPP for their "solid" support.

“My thanks also go to my children, my brothers and sisters and the entire Bawumia family for their support. I also thank my running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and his wife, Alma, for their strong support in this campaign,” he added.

Dr Bawumia again expressed gratitude to traditional rulers, religious leaders and all Ghanaians for their support and for the confidence they reposed in him and the NPP.

“To all Ghanaians who did not vote for us and the NPP in this particular election, I thank you for considering my proposals even though you exercised your right to choose by settling on the eventual winner”.

“Let me also thank the EC for overseeing yet another transparent and fair election in Ghana,” Dr Bawumia said.

He further thanked the security services for their role in maintaining the peace as well as the media for their excellent reportage.