To the esteemed delegates, elders, and members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as we approach the crucial presidential primaries on January 31st, 2026, a profound and necessary debate about our future is underway. In the honest introspection that follows any electoral setback, it is easy to look for a simple narrative, a single point of failure. A dangerous and ahistorical narrative is being peddled, suggesting that our flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, should be solely blamed for the 2024 outcome and that his rejection was a verdict on his person. This assertion is not only erroneous but a dangerous oversimplification that, if entertained, will fracture our party and cede the 2028 election to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) before the race has even begun.
It is time to set the record straight with facts, logic, and a clear-eyed view of recent political history.
The flawed logic of “abysmal performance”
The claim that Dr Bawumia’s performance was “abysmal” and that he was “overwhelmingly rejected” fails the most basic test of political context. Dr Bawumia was not an unknown quantity running on mere promises; he was a sitting Vice President who, for eight years, shouldered significant responsibilities in one of the most challenging global economic periods. To suggest the electorate rejected him personally ignores the complex realities of anti-incumbency and voter fatigue that often plague parties in power for two terms.
Let us be clear, the allegations that our 2024 campaign was solely a referendum on Dr Bawumia are unfounded and must be treated with the disdain they deserve. This argument lacks merit because it deliberately ignores the multifaceted forces that shape election outcomes.
A lesson from our opponents: The 2016 precedent
To fully understand 2024, we must look back to 2016. President John Dramani Mahama, a sitting President with the full power and incumbency advantage of the presidency, lost the election by a significant, historic margin, a feat never before seen in Ghana’s Fourth Republic. Furthermore, the NDC lost many seats in parliament, with the NPP securing a strong majority of 169 MPs.
What is the most critical lesson from that event? There were no significant public cracks in the NDC. No senior member broke away to form a new party to siphon their votes. Their party structure, however defeated, remained largely intact. Yet, President Mahama still lost catastrophically. Why? Because the economic indicators and the national mood did not favour him. The Ghanaian people desired change, and the election became a verdict on the NDC’s governance, not necessarily on President John Mahama as an individual.
This historical parallel is crucial. If a sitting President can lose by a historic margin due to circumstances largely beyond the control of a single individual, why should Dr Bawumia be held solely responsible for a loss under even more complicated circumstances?
The real cause of 2024: An unprecedented internal fracture
The situation leading to our 2024 loss was fundamentally different and, in many ways, more challenging. The cracks in our party began to show after the presidential super delegates conference. The process of pruning the candidates, while necessary, created tensions and disappointments that were not adequately healed.
This internal problem culminated in the formation of the “Movement for Change” by Hon. Alan Kyerematen. Let us speak plainly: this single act was designed to fragment the NPP front. It created a parallel platform that confused our base, divided loyalties, and siphoned off critical votes that have always been the bedrock of our victories. The “Movement for Change” was not an external challenge; it was a self-inflicted wound that bled us at the polls.
How can any presidential candidate, no matter how strategically brilliant or hardworking, win an election when contending with such a multitude of internal problems? Dr Bawumia was not just fighting the NDC; he was fighting on two fronts, attempting to unite a fractured party while simultaneously facing a formidable opposition.
Beyond the blame game: A collective responsibility
To place the blame for the election loss solely at the feet of Dr Bawumia is, to put it mildly, to give a dog a bad name just to hang it. This loss stemmed from a confluence of factors:
- The Alan Kyerematen Factor: The fragmentation of our base was a decisive variable that affected the fortune of the party.
- The Weight of Incumbency: Governing through a global economic crisis created headwinds that no party could easily overcome and mostly affected most incumbents across the world.
- Grassroots Mobilisation: A presidential candidate cannot be everywhere at once. The ultimate work of winning elections happens at the polling stations and in the communities. It is a collective effort where every party member and executive has a role to play.
Therefore, blaming Dr Bawumia alone is an abdication of our collective responsibility. It is a convenient excuse that prevents us from doing the hard work of genuine reconciliation and strengthening our grassroots structures.
Why Bawumia is the obvious choice for 2028
Looking ahead to 2028, we need a candidate who possesses unique strengths to wrestle power from the NDC. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is that candidate.
- Proven Resilience and Name Recognition: He has been at the heart of our government’s digitalisation and economic interventions. He is a known figure with a strong brand that resonates with the Ghanaian electorate, particularly the youth.
- A Unifier for the Party: Having gone through the primaries and the general election, he is now in a prime position to lead the healing process. He understands the fractures and is best placed to mend them.
- The Strategic Mind to Counter the NDC: As a communicator and strategist, he has consistently proven his ability to articulate our party’s message and effectively counter the NDC’s narrative. In 2028, we need a thinker, a debater, and a leader who can go toe-to-toe with the NDC on policy and vision.
The delegates have a critical choice to make. We can choose to succumb to a false narrative of blame, tear down our most formidable asset, and enter 2028 divided and weakened. Or, we can choose unity, learning, and strategic foresight for victory in 2028.
Let us learn from the past without being trapped by it. Let us reject the simplistic politics of blame and embrace the complex reality of building a winning coalition. Let us rally behind Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, not as a scapegoat for our collective challenges, but as the proven leader best positioned to unite our party and lead us to victory in 2028.
The power to secure our future is in your hands. Vote for unity. Vote for experience. Vote for victory.
Vote for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on January 31st 2026.
By Adjei Worlanyo Frank
