Bawumia sets sights on 2028, Rallies NPP for battle

At a frenzied mini rally, with a crowd of party faithful cheering deep into the night, former Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, last Saturday urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to shift focus from the "blistering battle" for the party’s flagbearership to the prime objective of recapturing political power at the 2028 polls.

The rallying call, the highlight of a 15-minute victory speech at the party’s headquarters in Accra, acknowledged the competitive process as an enduring party tradition that should not divide the five candidates or their supporters.

Dr Bawumia’s voice sounded, strained by the seven months of strenuous campaigning across the 276 constituencies, but conveyed the measured tone of a reconciliation-seeking speech, broadcast far and wide across the country via various platforms.

“After competition comes cooperation,” he said to wild cheers.

“Our expectation is that all party members will apply themselves to this principle,” he added.

The results

Dr Bawumia secured a decisive victory, polling 110,643 votes, representing 56.48 per cent of the total votes cast, to lead the NPP into a major election once again.

Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, came a distant second with 46,554 votes, representing 23.76 per cent, while MP for Abetifi and former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, finished third with 36,303 votes, representing 18.53 per cent.

MP for Bosomtwi and former Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and former General Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, polled 1,999 votes, representing 1.02 per cent, and 402 votes, representing 0.21 per cent, respectively.

Over 190,000 delegates cast their ballots at 333 polling centres across all 276 constituencies and at the separate centre mounted at the party head office. 

Reconciliation

The victory thrusts Dr Bawumia into the driving seat of the NPP’s campaign to wrest power for a second time in a row, affirming his popularity within the party.

He was the NPP’s presidential candidate in the 2024 elections, which the party lost on both the presidential and parliamentary fronts.

As the campaigning rhetoric during the latest presidential primary electioneering period went overboard sometimes, political watchers sounded the threat of division after the election.

Yet, at the conclusion of the rather peaceful process last Saturday, remarkably devoid of any threat of violence or confusion at any voting centre, the party ushered itself into a new era of unity in diversity.

“It cannot be the case that one's support for the party is maintained only when those we support lead. I want to stand on this energy to make a passionate appeal to all members of the great NPP to let go of whatever reservations they have and come together,” Dr Bawumia said.

“We need every idea, every voice, and every piece of advice to help us preserve and protect a proud tradition bequeathed to us by our forebears,” he stressed.

"Winners and those who didn't win at this particular time, we are in this together.

All true and committed members of the great NPP need to embrace this civilised and time-tested way of selecting flag bearers," Dr Bawumia stated.

As part of plans to widen the reconciliatory efforts, he said he would undertake targeted engagements to revitalise the party, including visiting some respected elders, who for some reason felt aggrieved.

“Every voice matters, every opinion is worth considering, and every suggestion is vital to building a formidable strategy," he said, but stressed that indiscipline would not be countenanced.
"An army that lacks discipline will struggle to win its battles.

The NPP needs to step up discipline internally, discipline in our operations, discipline in our communications, and discipline in the conduct of our members," he said.

Pledges of unity

Before he mounted the podium, the party had demonstrated a united front, an energised grassroots base arriving in droves at the party headquarters once voting proceedings ended at 2 p.m.

In turns, the four other candidates pledged support towards the common target, setting a positive tone for the next phase of the NPP's preparations for the 2028 general election.

Mr Agyapong urged his supporters to take the outcome in good faith, saying winning and losing were part of the democratic process.

"I want to thank my supporters and advise you that in an election, you can win or lose. So, if you lose, you need to accept it in good faith," he said.

Mr Agyapong further appealed for unity, stressing that cohesion within the NPP must be built on respect for differing views.

Dr Acheampong congratulated Dr Bawumia on his victory and wished him success as he led the party forward.

"The outcome is not what I had hoped for, but I accept the results with humility, and my resolve remains strong," he said.

"The NPP must stand as one united family, and our collective responsibility is to rebuild trust among Ghanaians, strengthen our structures and prepare decisively for victory in 2028," he added.

Dr Adutwum called on all party members to come together to work for victory in 2028.

“We will definitely secure victory in 2028, but that calls for unity and hard work,” he said.

Mr Agyei Agyepong said he identified with the sentiments expressed by his fellow aspirants, and added that the party had a wonderful opportunity to restore the values that animated the formation of the NPP.

“Our tradition has been the sustenance of democracy in this country, and together, we will unite and work hard right from the polling station to the top to earn the trust and confidence of Ghanaians to win back power,” he said.

Clarity of purpose

Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo urged the party's flagbearer to lead with clarity and purpose ahead of the 2028 elections.

"I know his mind, and I know his character. He is loyal to party principles," the former President said of Dr Bawumia, and urged the former Vice-President to offer focused leadership ahead of the next election.

The General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said the party would pursue an inclusive campaign ahead of Election 2028 and expressed the importance of unity to the collective pursuit of electoral victory in 2028.

The Chairperson of the Presidential Elections Committee, Joseph Osei-Owusu, urged the party to build on the success of the primary.

He recommended that the party consolidate the rules and innovations of Prof. Mike Oquaye during the 2023 presidential primary and the inter-party committee into a single operational guide to serve as a reference framework for the party's electoral processes and to strengthen the party’s internal democracy

The acting Chairman of the NPP, Danquah Buttey Smith, called on the rank and file of the party to unite for victory in 2028.

Voting process

Voting was conducted under tight security and closely supervised by party officials to ensure a credible and transparent process.

Party officials and observers described the exercise as largely peaceful, with minimal incidents reported during voting and counting.