VIDEO: Bawumia fires back and rejects tribal, religious attacks in NPP race

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has reacted to what he described as “unfortunate” tribal and religious attacks against his bid to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the 2028 general election.

Speaking at the 33rd anniversary celebration of United States of America branch of the NPP in New York, Dr Bawumia expressed disappointment that some of his internal rivals had resorted to what he called “bigotry” in their campaign messages. He maintained that such comments did not reflect the true values of the NPP.

“An opponent has said delegates should not vote for me because I am Mamprusi and that we will lose votes in the Kusasi areas. This is so unfortunate,” he said. “Another contender against me, has also been promoting the religion card against me.”

Dr Bawumia's comments followed the circulation of comments by the campaigns of fellow flagbearer aspirants who told delegates that the NPP should change Bawumia as its candidate because of the Mamprusi-Kusasi conflict, which he claimed cost the party votes in 2024.

Dr Bawumia also cited other instances of what he termed “religious and tribal bigotry,” against his wife, Samira, who has been described as "not a true Ghanaian".

“Recently, Mr Asomah Cheremeh, a former minister, former ambassador and former regional chairman of Bono and a coordinator for Kennedy Agyapong, has introduced a new argument into the mix. He says that delegates should not vote for me because my wife Samira is not a true Ghanaian. Really??? So how can we campaign to minorities in a general election? Just unbelievable,” Dr Bawumia said.

He questioned why such attacks were surfacing now, when his contributions to the party in the past had not been defined by tribal or religious considerations. “When I was defending the party in the Supreme Court in 2013, they did not say that I was a Mamprusi, a northerner or a Muslim. When I was giving lectures and campaigning for the party to come into office in 2016, they did not say that I was a Mamprusi, a northerner or a Muslim. When my campaign in the north made the difference in our winning the 2020 election, they did not say I was a Mamprusi, a northerner or a Muslim. When Samira was campaigning the length and breadth of Ghana for the party, they did not say she was not a true Ghanaian. So what has changed? Why now?” he asked.

Despite expressing disappointment, Dr Bawumia was confident that such sentiments would not prevail in the NPP. “The NPP will always triumph over tribal and religious bigots,” he stated. “Let us be clear that these views do not represent the views of the rank and file of the party.”

He reiterated that the NPP had historically drawn its strength from diversity. “We have been the party that has over the years offered hope to the largest diversity of our peoples. Under our tent it has not mattered where you come from. Whether you are a Sefwi, Fante, Ewe, Ashanti, Ga-Dangbe, Krobo, Dagomba, Wala, Dagarti, Konkomba, Frafra, Kusasi or Mamprusi. It has not mattered what religion you practice, whether you are a Christian, Muslim or a traditional African religious practitioner. It has not mattered whether you are rich or poor or whether you are formally educated or not.”