Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has declared his intention to contest the New Patriotic Party, presidential primary slated for 4th November 2023.
The Vice President made this known when he met with the ruling party Majority caucus in on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, to ask for their support.
He is expected to make an official announcement publicly anytime soon.
Already, over 100 Members of Parliament (MPs) have declared their support for Vice President Bawumia.
Interestingly, several polls conducted have heavily tipped him to win the NPP presidential primary for the 2024 general election.
Sources gathered from the Majority Caucus indicated that Dr Bawumia can help the governing party achieve its objective of “breaking the 8.”
The ruling NPP has set November 4, 2023, for its presidential primaries to select a flagbearer for the 2024 general election.
The party will, however, hold a Special Congress on August 26, if more than five candidates file to run in the primaries.
So far, Former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen with 10 other people has declared their intention to contest the presidential primaries.
MP for Assin Central Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Minister for Energy Boakye Agyarko, former Minster for Railway Development, Joe Ghartey, former General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong and former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimoh are the other aspirants.
Meanwhile, the nomination period for the presidential primaries will begin on May 26 and end on June 24, 2023.
The party has also announced that parliamentary primaries will be held in February 2024.
The party will accept nominations between December 20, 2023, and January 4, 2024.
This means NPP will choose its Presidential Candidate before its parliamentary candidates.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has led the Government’s digitalisation agenda, earning widespread praise for his initiatives such as the digitalisation of the passport office and the rollout of Ghana’s National Identification Card (Ghana Card) among others.
He has consistently argued that, unlike other successive governments that have largely focused on crisis management relating to the economy, the Akufo Addo government has done differently by focusing on building systems that will strengthen and enhance the economic prospects of the country.
Dr Bawumia said the digitalization agenda embarked upon by the government is one sure way to guarantee the growth and consolidation of the economy of Ghana.
The digital systems that have been built for various sectors and institutions, he added have significantly improved revenue collection, made access to services easy and fought corruption amongst others.
The agenda is setting Ghana up to be ahead of other countries and be far more ready than anyone else to take advantage of this new world order.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has raised the flag of NPP high with a strong sense of belonging and togetherness to revive the lost hope of the grassroots back.
He has consistently been engaging the party faithful and assured them to put their maximum support into the party activities to bring power back.
-BY Daniel Bampoe