The United Kingdom (UK) branch of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) together with the Young Executives Forum (UK) has raised about £1.2 million (approximately GH¢23 million) to support the campaign of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of the 7th December 2024 general election.
The funds raised by the NPP-UK branch and the YEF at their fundraising dinner dance held last Saturday, at the Landmark Hotel in Central London, is the highest amount realised by the branch for NPP in any general election in Ghana.
In 2016, the NPP-UK and the YEF raised about $150,000.00 for the Akufo-Addo campaign, which went ahead to win the 2016 election.
In 2020, they raised a total of $450,000.00, and the party again was successful in the 2020 election.
The estimated cash and pledges for Dr Bawumia’s campaign from the NPP-UK and YEF projected to be £1.2 million, reflects the strong faith and support of the organs of the party for Dr Bawumia and his vision for the country.
Expression of gratitude
Speaking at the fundraising ceremony, Dr Bawumia expressed his appreciation to the NPP-UK and the YEF for their exceptional show of support for him, the NPP, and the country as a whole.
The Vice President and the NPP flagbearer reiterated his commitment to prosecuting a spirited election 2024 campaign as the leader and presidential candidate of the NPP to ensure that the party “breaks the 8.”
Possibilities mindset
Dr Bawumia pointed out that one of his primary objectives should he be elected as president by the people of Ghana, will be to seek to promote a mindset of possibilities among the citizenry instead of the attitude of impossibilities that appears to dominate the current way of thinking at various levels in the nation.
Spirited campaign
The NPP leader told the party faithful in London that the first round of his 2024 campaign, which started on 29 April and ended on 12 June 2024, has been largely successful and impactful. He indicated that from the month of July, he will be shifting to the second gear and reach the third and fourth gears by November 2024.
“The campaign has started in earnest. We have done a tour of the 16 regions, and we just finished with Ashanti. I would like to thank the Ashanti regional chairman and all the campaign team in Ashanti for the massive show of force that everybody saw when we got there.
“I think going through the 16 regions, it is clear that the narrative is changing. There were people who, six months ago, did not believe that the NPP was going to win the 2024 elections, but I think that after talking about our record and talking about our vision for this country, minds have changed dramatically and NPP is in the position to win the 2024 elections.
“We are not going to be complacent. We are just beginning. This first tour of the 16 regions is the first gear of the campaign. We are going to go into the second gear in July, the third and fourth gear by November, and I believe at every stage, we are going to up the anthem,” Dr Bawumia added.
‘Choose accountability’
General Secretary of the NPP Mr. Justin Kodua Frimpong, in a brief solidarity message to members of the NPP-UK, said Dr Bawumia and the entire NPP are eternally grateful to the NPP-UK, the premier branch, for its contributions to the success of the NPP as a party over the last 32 years.
He noted that the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections are crucial for the development of the country because the NPP has a candidate who is qualified to run for two terms compared with the NDC candidate who can only serve in office for just for one term in the unlikely event that he is elected as president.
“The question is, between a candidate who can run for two terms (8 years) and one who can only run for one term (4 years), who should be given the chance to be president. If we choose Dr Bawumia, he will be forced to deliver because he will have the opportunity to come back to Ghanaians after four years to ask them to renew his mandate.
“The NDC candidate, on the other hand, will not be coming back to Ghanaians to renew his mandate so he will not be accountable. I urge you all to let your friends and family members back home in Ghana know that there are challenges and that these challenges are global in nature. But with the visionary leader, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, as president, Ghana will get to the promised land,” he added.
Firm support
Kingsley Adumattah Agyapong (Wofa K), chairman of the NPP-UK branch in his remarks assured the presidential candidate their unwavering support, noting that they believe in the leadership of Dr. Bawumia, and his ability to take Ghana to new heights.
“NPP-UK will work tirelessly to ensure we secure every constituency allocated to us in the December 2024 elections. We understand the significance of this task, and we are prepared to rise to the occasion.
“Our dedicated members and effective communicators will be at the forefront championing Dr Bawumia’s policies and advocating for the NPP’s vision across all platforms. Dr Bawumia, your contributions as Vice President have been very remarkable.
“Your involvement in over 30 policies ranging from the introduction of mobile money interoperability to the digitalisation of public services has already begun to reshape Ghana’s socio-economic landscape. Your leadership in these initiatives has proved that you are not just a visionary but also a pragmatic leader capable of delivering tangible results,” Mr. Adumattah Agyapong added.
YEF backing
The Chairman of the Young Executives Forum (YEF) Mr Bennard Owusu, on his part, conveyed his heartfelt thanks to the Vice President for taking time off his campaign to be with the NPP-UK branch.
He noted that the YEF and the NPP-UK will marshal all their strength and capacity to support Dr Bawumia’s spirited effort aimed at winning the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
To the members of the NPP-UK and the Young Executive Forum, Bennard Owusu said he is immensely grateful for the overwhelming support shown by the cash donations and pledges made for the 2024 Bawumia campaign.
“Your generosity and commitment are vital to our shared goal of seeing Dr Bawumia elected as the leader of our nation. Together, we are making history and paving the way for a brighter future for Ghana,” Bernard Owusu said.
