So, characteristic of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a number of names have come up as possible contenders for the party’s Flagbearer for the 2028 Elections. Indeed, the race for the NPP flagbearer begun the very moment former Vice President and 2024 Flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, graciously conceded defeat, within 12 hours of the 2024 election.
Dr Bawumia’s unprecedented early concession earned him and the nation’s democracy deserved respect, but it also marked the beginning of an unavoidable question: who leads the NPP to the 2028 elections? The answer to this question is an open secret and ought not be asked ordinarily, but in a democratic situation, particularly in the NPP, where internal contests have been historically fierce, the question linger.
Former Vice President, Dr Bawumia, gave the strongest hint that he would contest again, and through his subsequent engagements, most notably the recent thank you tour, he has emphatically confirmed he would run.
Dr Bawumia’s declaration of intent, surely, has also been inspired by overwhelming support and encouragement he continues to receive from various stakeholders of the party.
Former contender, Kennedy Agyapong, has also declared that he will contest for the flagbearer again, and so has former education minister, Yaw Osei Adutwum, who announced his intention in a Facebook post and later deleted the post.
Former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko will most likely join others like former General Secretary, Kwabena Adjei Agyapong, whose recent comments on radio indicate he may run again.
With all these names, the big questions on the minds of many Ghanaians, particularly, NPP members who will select a Flagbearer are: what does each presidential aspirant bring on board? What is their track record in public service and the impact they have made? Does each of them possess the requisite integrity, respect and track record in public service to win the respect and support of Ghanaians?
Thankfully, almost all of them have been in public service before and their public service records are easily verifiable to ascertain their impacts.
Dr Bawumia In Pole Position
In terms of scrutinising their public service records and making comparative analysis between them, I believe it is not an exercise which should be reinvented. It has already been done, and Dr Bawumia stands in pole position.
The NPP’s 2024 Flagbearership race was largely decided on integrity, hard work and commitment to both party and government, public service impact, originality of ideas, among others. Dr Bawumia emerged the best, when party members considered all these factors in 2024, and I believe, strongly, that he is still ahead of the rest, in ticking the boxes, as far as these factors are concerned.
As undoubtedly the most impactful Vice President in Ghana’s history, Dr Bawumia, any day, presents to the NPP, the best option to lead the party back to government, no matter how long it takes. It makes both common, historical and political sense for the NPP to continue to present Dr. Bawumia, just as the party did with President Kuffuor and Nana Akufo-Addo, and just as the NDC did with Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and John Mahama.
Eventhough Prof. Mills was not as impactful a Vice President as Bawumia was, the NDC, nonetheless, had faith in him, and presented him three times, until he was elected President. The reason the NDC did that was simple: Mills was the most experienced NDC member in terms of public service at the highest level, having been Vice to President Rawlings for 4 years.
For Bawumia to have been a running mate twice, Vice President for 8 years, and Presidential Candidate once, he is undoubtedly the most experienced and most marketed NPP member to continue to lead the party. And in terms of his track record in public service, a man who initiated and spearheaded over 20 impactful public service as Vice President, surely deserves to be supported by his party until he becomes President to do more for mother Ghana.
All the names being presented as contenders have had opportunities in public service, but their records and impacts cannot compare with the exemplary vision Dr Bawumia demonstrates, which continue to earn admiration in the NPP and even beyond. It is interesting that just four months into the administration of the NDC, a number of Bawumia visions implemented by the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government, have become the focus of Ghanaians, as they are still being implemented by the new government.
Dr Bawumia’s impact as Vice President, under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo is unmatched, and it is the reason he is widely appreciated by the rank and file of the NPP. A man who has championed championed the implementation of impactful policies such as:
1. Bank of Ghana Gold Purchase Program
2. Issuance of the Ghana Card.
3. Issuance of a Ghana Card number to new born babies
4. Zipline Medical Drone Delivery – largest in the world
4. National Digital Address System
5. National E-Pharmacy Platform
6. Gold for Oil
7. Paperless Port System
8. Digitization of the renewal of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Membership.
9. Universal QR code for easy payments. First in Africa.
10. E-Gates and also no more filling of landing and departure forms at Kotoka Airport
11. Mobile Money Interoperability – number one in Africa
12. Ghana is the only country in Africa to have a 100% access to financial inclusion
13. Increased the proportion of Ghanaians with Tax Identification Numbers from 4% to 85%
14. Zongo Development fund.
15. Motor insurance database.
16. Ghana.Gov Platform
17. Citizens App Data Interoperability System – the only one in Africa
18. Individualized Credit scoring – MyCreditscore
19. Networking of medical records in all Teaching, regional and district hospitals
20. Agenda 111 hospitals.
21. Electric Buses for Public Transport
22. Tap and Go payment system for public transport
A number of these policies, surely, will need the brain behind it to successfully implement it for the country, and Dr Bawumia, for what he has demonstrated, deserve a chance to lead a future NPP government.
Surely, there are no presidential aspirants in NPP, who can match Dr Bawumia’s record.which the party’s members who vote, appreciate. It is not about promises; it is about what you have done before in public service.
AME
