Former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says his bid to lead the New Patriotic Party is anchored on strengthening the party from within while offering a clear economic and social vision to Ghanaians ahead of the 2028 general election.
At the heart of his message, he said, is a commitment to empower party members, build a dependable welfare system for delegates, and expand job opportunities for Ghana’s growing youth population. He described youth employment as a personal obligation tied to improving living conditions across the country.
Dr Bawumia is one of five contenders in Saturday’s NPP presidential primary, a contest that marks the party’s early move toward selecting a flagbearer for the next national election cycle.
Reflecting on his ongoing engagements, he said the reception from delegates had reinforced his confidence in the campaign.
“The delegates are responding with renewed zeal, seeing me as the prepared, unifying and winnable leader who can lead us back to government.
They appreciate the direct engagement, humility, and focus on the future, and many have expressed that this grassroots approach has reignited hope and commitment across the party,” he told the Daily Graphic.
Dr Bawumia led the NPP into the 2024 elections after emerging victorious from a crowded internal contest that began with 10 aspirants and narrowed to five in a second round. Two of the candidates he defeated in that race are again challenging him in the current primary.
Despite opinion polls that place him ahead of the field, he said his focus extended beyond winning Saturday’s vote, stressing the need for cohesion within the party.
“We are one family under the elephant symbol, and we must set aside differences to focus on rebuilding together, brick by brick, anchored in our core values of discipline, hard work, and putting Ghana first,” he said.
He added that his campaign had deliberately centred on substance rather than attacks.
He said he had preached the message about ideas, vision, and policy direction “rather than personal attacks because negative campaigning only helps our opponents”.
During the 2024 general election, Dr Bawumia ran on his record in office, highlighting his role in driving the digitalisation of Ghana’s economy. He frequently pointed to reforms and systems that reshaped public service delivery and helped modernise business operations nationwide.
An economist and former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Bawumia’s standing within the NPP, party figures say, has grown beyond his economic credentials, with senior party members increasingly visible in support of his current bid.
“I spearheaded ground-breaking initiatives in digitalisation, financial inclusion, and innovation that continue to benefit Ghana.
“I have national appeal, having campaigned extensively across every region, and I am already well known and recognised in even the remotest villages, something that gives the NPP a head start rather than starting from zero,” he said.
He also outlined the personal values he believes define his leadership.
“My qualities include absolute respect for all humans of any class without discrimination, a unifying approach, vision, discipline, honesty, and a commitment to decorum,” he added.
Dr Bawumia enters the primary with the backing of more than 80 per cent of the NPP’s 87 Members of Parliament, about 90 per cent of the party’s parliamentary candidates from the 2024 elections, as well as a long list of former ministers and deputy ministers who are actively campaigning for him.
“I am the most prepared candidate, having worked with party grassroots as running mate for four elections and the flagbearer in 2024, and the most marketable with proven winnability.
I came close in a challenging election, and with the lessons learned and the vision that I have for Ghana, I am best positioned to secure victory in 2028,” he stated.
Drawing on his time in government, he said his experience gave him an edge.
“As former Vice-President, I served loyally alongside the President for eight years, gaining deep executive experience in governance, economic policy, digital transformation and national leadership,” he averred.
Looking ahead, Dr Bawumia said he planned to run a modern, data-driven campaign that spoke directly to voters, particularly young people, while restoring unity within the party and projecting a disciplined, issue-focused image to the electorate.
He said his leadership would prioritise order, accountability and teamwork across all party structures, insisting that no individual interest would ever outweigh the collective strength of the NPP.
