The former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, has described former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the strongest presidential aspirant who can win the 2028 general election for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The Damongo MP, who is also a member of Dr Bawumia’s campaign team, cited the former vice president’s nationwide recognition as a frontrunner in any national election.
Highlighting the qualities of Dr Bawumia on ‘The Point of View’ on Channel One TV on Monday, January 26, 2026, Mr Jinapor described the NPP 2028 presidential candidate as a public servant of unquestionable integrity with no corruption allegations or scandals against his name.
Dr Bawumia, he added, has consistently demonstrated competence, ideas, and solutions to national challenges, while showing the capacity to develop policies that respond to the needs of ordinary Ghanaians.
Even though he acknowledged the challenges faced by the previous NPP government, he said Dr Bawumia’s conduct in office reflected strong leadership qualities.
The former Vice President is in the presidential race with four other aspirants, and he is optimistic of winning the 31st January 2026 presidential primary.
Dr Bawumia officially ended his nationwide campaign in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
Other aspirants
Mr Jinapor said he holds all five presidential aspirants in high regard, noting that he has worked closely with most of them at various stages of his political career.
He explained that Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum and Dr Bryan Acheampong served with him in the same cabinet, while Kennedy Agyapong is a long-time friend.
He also described former General Secretary Ing. Kwabena Agyepong as a respected figure within the party.
Despite his admiration for all the contenders, Mr Jinapor stressed that the NPP must be strategic if it intends to return to power in 2028.
He acknowledged that winning the election would require hard work regardless of the candidate but argued that Dr Bawumia stands out among the five.
According to him, Dr Bawumia’s long experience at the highest levels of governance gives him a clear advantage. He noted that the former Vice President has been on the presidential ticket since 2008 and has remained at the centre of national politics for nearly two decades.
Highlighting humility, temperament, and vision as critical attributes in Ghanaian politics, Mr Jinapor said Dr Bawumia possesses the calmness and maturity required to lead the country and rally public support behind a clear national vision.
“I think he’s shown also to be formidable. He’s shown to be humble, and humility in Ghanaian politics is absolutely important. He’s shown to have the temperament to be president. And above all, I think he’s also shown to have the vision.
“You have a vision which, if he puts before the Ghanaian people, we will have the chance of the Ghanaian people coalescing around the vision that he put before them.
“All five of them are conversing to lead and be presidential candidates, but we need to choose the best among the five. And if you look at the five of them, and you look at the factors that I’ve listed, and if NPP is not considering 2032, in other words, presenting a candidate for 2028 for strategic reasons and expecting not to win, and then repeating the candidate for 2032 and hope that the traditional eight-year cycle will favour the NPP, then maybe we can look at another candidate. But if we want to win in 2028, I think our best shot should be Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.”
It will be unwise not to retain Bawumia– Asenso Boakye
Dr Bawumia has been receiving massive endorsement across the country with the MP for Bantama and former Minister for Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso Boakye, urging the NPP to retain the 2024 presidential candidate as its flagbearer for the 2028 general election.
Addressing NPP delegates and members in Bantama on Monday, Mr Asenso Boakye said it would be a “grave mistake” for the party to abandon Dr Bawumia, citing his experience in governance, personal character and popularity within the party.
“It will be the most unwise decision for the NPP not to retain Dr Bawumia to lead the party to the 2028 election,” he said.
His comments come as the NPP begins internal discussions about its future leadership following the party’s defeat in the 2024 general election, which ended its eight-year stay in government.
Mr Asenso Boakye rejected claims by some party members that Dr Bawumia was responsible for the party’s electoral loss.
He maintained that findings from the party’s own review, as well as independent assessments, did not blame the former Vice President.
“After the defeat, some people started blaming Dr Bawumia for the loss. But all the research works into why the NPP lost the 2024 election, including those by independent researchers, did not fault him,” he stated.
He described Dr Bawumia as a leader with the intellectual depth and vision needed to return the party to power. “When you’re looking for someone with great intellect, wisdom, humility, experience and vision to propel Ghana to greater heights, it is Dr Mahamudu Bawumia,” he added.
The Bantama MP also accused some aspirants of spreading what he described as falsehoods about the former Vice President in an attempt to undermine his credibility within the party.
According to Mr Asenso Boakye, his engagements with party supporters across the country suggest that Dr Bawumia remains highly favoured among the NPP grassroots.
He therefore called on delegates expected to vote on Saturday to rally behind Dr Bawumia and support his bid to lead the party into the 2028 elections, insisting that unity behind an experienced candidate would be critical to the NPP’s chances of reclaiming power.
By Kyei Boateng
