A flagbearer hopeful for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on party members to behave decorously in the lead-up to the presidential primary, scheduled for January 31, 2026.
He urged the party faithful, especially those intending to contest the presidential primary, to avoid insults and concentrate on substantive ideas.
“I want this flagbearership election to be conducted with decorum. We are not in a campaign of insults, and we should not be in a campaign of insults. It should be about ideas. And that is what will capture the imagination of Ghanaians.”
‘’What ideas do we have? What are we bringing to the table? How are we going to solve the problems Ghanaians face?
As a party, I urge everyone—aspirants and supporters alike—to focus on promoting or selling our respective aspirants’’, he advised.
Youth organisers
The former Vice-President, Dr Bawumia, made the call yesterday when some youth leaders of the party presented nomination forms to him.
The youth had earlier picked up the forms from the party headquarters, wearing NPP-branded attire and singing patriotic songs as they entered the premises.
Negative campaigning
Dr Bawumia urged aspirants and their supporters to avoid insults during the campaign and warned that negative campaigning could harm the party and give ammunition to its political opponents.
“When we bring down other people, we bring down the party.
Our opponents will take our messages and use them against us,” he said.
He, therefore, called for an idea-driven campaign as the party prepared for what is expected to be a competitive internal contest.
He urged party members and fellow aspirants to uphold a spirit of decency and respect as the race for the party’s leadership gains momentum.
“I will not and you will never hear me insulting any aspirants.
Because when this election is over, we have to contest a general election.
And if we divide ourselves today, we will have difficulty uniting for a general election tomorrow.
So, let us begin the process with unity and end with unity because that will bring victory in 2028,” he stated.
Dr Bawumia thanked the youth, calling the gesture a remarkable show of confidence, stressing that “the youth are a major asset of our party and the nation.
They represent the future. I want to thank them for this major vote of confidence.”
Political moment
One of the youth leaders, Isaac Obeng, described the occasion as a celebration of young people and a significant political moment.
“Yesterday was International Youth Day and as youth organisers and deputies from various constituencies, we believe we cannot remain idle in our constituencies without marking this remarkable day,” he said.
Mr Obeng emphasised the unity and enthusiasm among the youth, noting that representatives from numerous constituencies had come together to make the gesture.
He expressed confidence in Dr Bawumia’s leadership, suggesting that the day could mark a turning point for the country.
He cited Dr Bawumia’s “exceptional leadership, proven track record and vision for the nation’s future” as reasons for their support.
Background
On Tuesday, August 5, a group of NPP Members of Parliament picked up nomination forms on behalf of NPP presidential hopeful Kennedy Agyapong, ahead of the party’s presidential primary scheduled for January 31, 2026.
Other candidates who have picked up nomination forms are Kwabena Agyei Agyepong and Bryan Acheampong.
