Act as government-in-waiting - Bawumia urges Minority Caucus
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flag Bearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged the Minority Caucus in Parliament to reposition itself as a credible government-in-waiting ahead of the 2028 general election.
Addressing the caucus at a closed-door meeting ahead of the resumption of Parliament yesterday, Dr Bawumia said the party had completed its post-election introspection and must now focus on rebuilding public confidence.
“We have finished the period of introspection. We must now position ourselves credibly as a party preparing to govern from January 7, 2029,” he said.
He stressed that every action of the Minority in Parliament, in the media and in their constituencies must convince Ghanaians that the NPP remained capable of governing the country again.
Four-pillar strategy
Dr Bawumia outlined a four-pillar strategy to guide the caucus during the new parliamentary session.
The pillars include positioning the NPP as a government-in-waiting, holding the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration accountable for its campaign promises, defending the NPP’s record in government, and safeguarding unity within the caucus.
He urged MPs to conduct themselves with discipline and focus, insisting that the party’s parliamentary approach must be evidence-based and solution-oriented.
“Let every Ghanaian who watches this session come away thinking: the NPP is ready, and the NPP is on our side,” he stated.
Demand accountability
Dr Bawumia called on the Minority to intensify scrutiny of government policies and programmes by demanding figures, implementation plans, timelines and measurable outcomes.
“Where government makes a claim, ask for the numbers.
Where government announces a programme, ask for the budget, the implementation architecture, the timelines, the beneficiaries and the measurable outcomes,” he said.
He identified key areas for scrutiny, including the government’s 24-hour economy policy, job creation promises, cost of living pressures, power supply challenges, illegal mining, cocoa sector concerns and the management of natural resources.
On the government’s economic narrative, Dr Bawumia argued that macroeconomic stability alone was insufficient unless it translated into improved living conditions for citizens.
“Stability is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end,” he said.
Defend record
The former Vice-President also urged MPs to robustly defend the NPP’s achievements in government, including the Free Senior High School policy, the National Health Insurance Scheme, the School Feeding Programme and the Youth Employment Programme.
He warned that the party risked allowing its opponents to define its legacy if members failed to speak confidently about its record.
Dr Bawumia further described unity as the caucus’s greatest political asset and advised members to resolve disagreements internally while presenting a united front publicly.
“Let no one outside this party profit from avoidable divisions within our ranks,” he said.
Praise for Minority
Dr Bawumia commended the Minority Caucus for what he described as its resilience since the NPP lost power in the 2024 elections.
“You have been the last line of defence and glimmer of hope for the Ghanaian people,” he told the MPs.
He also pledged his personal support to the caucus throughout the parliamentary session and urged members to remain calm, prepared and focused on regaining the trust of Ghanaians.
