2024 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has dismissed claims that the party’s electoral defeat was due to his Islamic faith.
Following the NPP’s loss to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 general elections, some party members, including Nhyiaeso MP, Stephen Amoah — suggested that Ghanaians are not ready to vote for a non-Christian President.
But addressing delegates at the NPP’s National Chairmen Caucus Conference on Saturday, June 21, the former Vice President rejected those claims, insisting that religion and ethnicity played no role in the party’s defeat.
He questioned whether the over 4.7 million votes he secured during the 2024 elections were all from Muslims or people from his ethnic group.
“It is very, very important, therefore, that we don’t allow people to come in with explanations that are not made up and that will not unite our party. We are a united party — people from all ethnic groups, all religions — that we are part of the family,” Dr. Bawumia stated.
He warned against attempts to stir religious and tribal sentiments within the party, describing such efforts as dangerous and divisive.
“People are going religious and tribal. That is dangerous. It’s very dangerous for us if you go in that direction. What is clear and is stated in black and white, as well as all the other studies, is that religion and tribe were not factors in the 2024 election defeat,” he said.
“My 4.7 million votes, were they all from Muslims? If that were the case, I wouldn’t have contested the flagbearership again because I’m not selfish,” Dr. Bawumia added.
His comments come days after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) approved January 31, 2026, as the date for electing the NPP’s 2028 presidential candidate.
