Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
The NPP 2024 flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has predicted a political comeback for the NPP in the 2028 elections, arguing that the NDC will be at a disadvantage with a new presidential candidate.
Speaking during a session with members of the Young Executive Forum (YEF) in London as part of his Thank You Tour of the UK, the former Vice President expressed strong optimism about the NPP’s future.
“I am very, very optimistic about 2028,” he told the gathering.
“I look at the way forward, and I’m quite optimistic. I believe that in 2028, NPP is going to come back into government. I believe so. I believe so.”
He cited Ghana’s political tradition of favouring repeat presidential candidates over first-timers.
“Our political history suggests that it is usually very difficult for a first-time presidential candidate to win an election in Ghana. I don’t know why that is, but Ghanaians want you to come more than once.”
Dr Bawumia pointed to historical examples to support his case.
“John Agyekum Kufuor in ’96 had to come back in 2000. President John Mills did 2000, 2004, then he won in 2008. Nana Akufo-Addo went three times before he won. Mahama’s first win was an aberration.”
He argued that Mahama’s 2012 win came under extraordinary circumstances.
“We were going for an election against Mills…then it was Mahama who was sworn in and became the candidate. For the rest of the campaign, NDC was playing funeral songs. They mourned all the way to victory. Even then, we disputed it.”
He continued, “Mahama has been their perennial candidate over the last few elections. Now they will have to bring a new candidate.
“I believe we will have an advantage, all things being equal, over that new candidate coming in 2028. I believe we will have a very big advantage.”
Beyond history, Dr. Bawumia said the NPP’s chances will be boosted by the realities of governance that the NDC will face over the next four years.
“They are in government now. It’s not easy to do propaganda when you are in government. It’s very easy to do propaganda in opposition,” he said.
According to him, many of the NDC’s campaign promises are already unravelling.
“They said that when they come, they will bring down the cost of kenkey and the cost of living. I don’t know—have you noticed the reduction in prices in Ghana? No. Prices are rather going up.”
He took a swipe at the government over its handling of cocoa prices, illegal mining, education reforms, and electricity challenges.
“They lied to cocoa farmers that they are going to increase the price of a bag of cocoa from ¢3,100 to ¢7,000… today they are saying they had wrong information. They told teachers they will abolish the licensure exams. Today, they are saying they won’t touch it.”
He also mocked the NDC’s flagship 24-hour economy promise.
“This is their flagship promise. They really had big, big billboards. Today, it’s completely missing from their policy. It didn’t appear in their budget. And in any case, how can you have a 24-hour economy with dumsor at the same time?”
He added: “We warned Ghanaians that dumsor and NDC work together. Ghanaians didn’t listen. But we’ve basically been proven right.”
Bawumia said the current trajectory would make Ghanaians yearn for an NPP return. “By the time they hit four years, I think you will see a big clamour for the NPP to come back into office.”
He acknowledged the NPP’s own missteps in government.
“There’s no doubt… we did not get everything right. We got quite a few things wrong. On my own behalf, on behalf of the party and the government, I apologise to all of you for us not getting things right that we should have gotten.”
But he stressed that lessons have been learned. “I believe that if, by the grace of God, we have another opportunity, we will get many things right.”
He concluded with a plea to the diaspora members: “I want to count on all of your support.”
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