Dear esteemed delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP),
As you prepare to exercise one of the most consequential responsibilities entrusted to you by our great party, you stand at a defining crossroads in our political history. The decision you will take at the upcoming presidential primary will not only determine the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party but will also significantly shape the future direction of Ghana at a critical moment in our democratic journey.
This solemn responsibility demands sober reflection, fidelity to the ideals of the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition and a clear-eyed assessment of leadership, competence, vision, character and electoral viability. It calls on us to ask not merely who best articulates our values, but who is best equipped to unite our party, restore public confidence and lead us to victory in the 2028 general election.
It is in this spirit of loyalty, responsibility and hope for the future of our party and country that I humbly, but firmly, make the case for why Dr Mahamudu Bawumia deserves your mandate as the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party.
Addressing false narratives
First, it is important to respectfully but decisively disabuse our minds of the misinformation and propaganda that have been peddled against Dr Bawumia by his fiercest critics.
Claim
The NPP lost the 2024 general election because of the party’s presidential candidate, his religion, ethnicity, competence or personality.
The facts
The party’s own internal assessments categorically reject this claim. The Oquaye Election Review Report, presented to the National Council and later publicly referenced by the NPP general secretary during the party’s “thank you tour”, clearly ruled out the religion, ethnicity, or personal attributes of the flagbearer as the cause of the party’s defeat.
Rather, the Report identified factors such as the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), the E-Levy, the handling of illegal mining (galamsey), contentious social policy debates, neglect of grass-roots structures (edidigya), perceived arrogance of some appointees, and the well-documented phenomenon of eight-year incumbency fatigue as the primary reasons for the loss.
Notably, Dr Bawumia exercised no direct control over these factors. Indeed, it is difficult to expect electoral success when over two million party supporters, including respected party elders, did not turn out to vote.
Independent findings by Global InfoAnalytics and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS)-International corroborate these conclusions. Both internal and external data, therefore, decisively neutralise the claim that Dr Bawumia was the cause of the NPP’s electoral defeat. The evidence is clear: Dr Bawumia did not lose the election for the NPP.
The economy and the truth about digitalisation
Claim
Another persistent claim is that Dr Bawumia “ran away from the economy” and took refuge in digitalisation.
The facts
The facts tell a different story. Under Ghana’s constitutional architecture, economic management is driven by fiscal policy, led by the Ministry of Finance, and monetary policy, managed by the Bank of Ghana. The 1992 constitution assigns no direct executive authority over either to the Office of the Vice-President. None is run by the Office of the Vice-President. The constitution gives the vice-president no role to play in the management of the economy.
The Economic Management Team (EMT) that is often chaired by the vice-president has no constitutional or statutory basis. It is merely a cabinet sub-committee without decision-making powers. Its role is merely advisory. Ultimate decision-making authority rests with the president and cabinet, which is chaired by the president. It is not surprising that some presidents in the Fourth Republic never had an EMT. So, how do we blame a vice-president for the difficulties in the economy merely because he chairs an EMT?
The point must however be made that even though Dr Bawumia as vice-president was in charge of neither fiscal nor monetary policy, he was tasked by President Akufo-Addo to focus on building data-driven systems and technologies and leveraging technology to improve efficiency, service delivery, and economic inclusion. In effect, while the Ministry of Finance, led by Ken Ofori-Atta, focused on fiscal policy (the Budget) and the Bank of Ghana, led by Governor Ernest Addison, focused on monetary policy, including exchange rates and related matters, Dr Bawumia focused on digitalisation.
So, while Dr Bawumia cannot be entirely blameless on the general issues of the economy under the Akufo-Addo government, it is only fair and proper that we assess his record based on the specific task that he was assigned to perform (ie, digitalisation). So, how has he performed in this space? Dr Bawumia did embrace this responsibility and delivered with distinction. Under his leadership, Ghana witnessed the successful rollout of over 30 transformative digital initiatives, including but not limited to:
* The digital address system
* The Ghana Card
* Mobile money interoperability
* Paperless ports
* The ghana.gov platform
* Digitalisation of passport services, DVLA, NHIA, ECG and tax filing
* Digital health records and hospital systems
* Motor insurance and pharmacy databases
* Births and Deaths Registry reforms
* Zipline drone medical delivery services
These interventions have fundamentally transformed public service delivery and everyday life for millions of Ghanaians. He ensured that by a simple click of a computer button or a mobile phone, you get answers for most of your issues. Dr Bawumia is in fact the only vice-president in the history of Ghana that will for ever be remembered for spearheading many life-transforming initiatives. His name is inseparably linked to Ghana’s digital transformation.
So if, as vice-president, without executive authority from Article 58 of the constitution, he could spearhead such far-reaching reforms, then one can only imagine how much he would be able to achieve when he becomes president, with full executive authority to implement his own vision, in his own style and on his own terms.
This track record of delivery is one of the many reasons why you (delegates) must vote for Dr Bawumia to lead the NPP in the 2028 elections.
A unifier in a time of division
Beyond competence and performance, Dr Bawumia stands out as the aspirant best positioned to unite the New Patriotic Party.
In the face of relentless attacks and provocation, he has remained calm, respectful and focused. He has consistently refused to return insults with insults or division with division. Bawumia does not believe in paying wrong with wrong. He does not return missiles to those firing missiles at him. He would rather focus on his strengths and campaign message, particularly how he would deliver victory to the NPP in the next general election.
To Dr Bawumia, all that matters is the party’s unity and cohesion at all material times. And so, while his opponents preach exclusion and tribalism, Dr Bawumia preaches inclusion. While they preach individualism, Dr Bawumia preaches collectivism. While they preach religious differences, Dr Bawumia preaches religious tolerance. While they threaten fire and brimstone, Dr Bawumia emphasizes peace and unity. While they see him as a competitor, Dr Bawumia sees his fellow aspirants as brothers and sisters bound by a shared commitment to returning the NPP to government.
Most importantly, dear delegates, Dr Bawumia’s campaign message has directly addressed the very issues that contributed to our recent electoral setback, including grass-roots neglect and delegate welfare. His proposals, such as constituency-based appointments and welfare systems driven by digital solutions demonstrate foresight, humility and a willingness to learn from past mistakes.
Verdict of history and experience
History also teaches us that political perseverance matters. Both the NPP and the NDC have benefited from presenting experienced, previously tested candidates.
No president in the Fourth Republic has won at the first attempt, and incumbents have consistently handed over power to opposition candidates who contested them once or twice.
So, no matter how you twist and turn the analysis, by every objective measure, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia stands as the strongest and safest bet to lead the New Patriotic Party into the 2028 elections. He is the most marketed, most prepared, most competent, most strategic, most visionary, most charismatic, most qualified, most formidable and most disciplined candidate, and everybody including his opponents and their supporters know this fact.
This is not about opinion, where everybody is entitled to have one. Facts are sacred and we cannot be entitled to our own set of facts.
Conclusion
Esteemed delegates, the choice before you is historic. You hold in your hands not only the future of the New Patriotic Party, but a critical chapter in Ghana’s democratic story. The moment calls for courage, clarity and commitment to what will best serve the party and the nation.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia offers proven competence, a record of delivery, an unifying temperament and a forward-looking vision capable of renewing hope within the party and confidence among the Ghanaian electorate.
He represents continuity with reform, experience with humility and leadership with unity. As you cast your ballots, I respectfully urge you to vote not out of fear or misinformation, but out of conviction, evidence and faith in the future we can build together. Vote Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, #3. Vote for unity and competence. Vote for victory in 2028.
Assalamu alaikum!
Yours in service to party and country,
Lawyer Iddi Muhayu-Deen
muhayudeen2007@yahoo.com
