The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Saturday elected Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as its presidential candidate for the December 2024 general election.
He polled 118,210 of the valid votes cast, representing 61.47% to beat competition from Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Francis Addai-Nimoh and Owusu Afriyie Akoto.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who is the NPP Assin Central MP, placed second with 71,996 votes, representing 37.41%, whilst Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Food and Agriculture Minister, placed third with 1,459 votes, representing 0.76% and Addai-Nimoh placed fourth with 731 votes, representing 0.38%.
The presidential election last Saturday was described as generally calm, free, and fair, with over 200,000 delegates voting around the country and a total of 193,346 valid votes recorded, and 900 rejected votes.
President Akufo-Addo, who handed over the party’s flag to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as a symbol of the transfer of the flagbearer position, congratulated him on his 16-year contribution to the party, while pledging to support him and the NPP in retaining power.
“I have done my best but I still have one more task to do, and that is with all my strength, with all my energy, to help the new flagbearer to win the 2024 elections. Ghana cannot afford the return of the NDC, especially under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama,” he said.
According to President Akufo-Addo, despite the fact that the 2024 elections will have high stakes and an enormous challenge ahead of the party, he is convinced that Dr. Bawumia and the defeated aspirants will remain united in order to keep the NPP in power after the general election.
He said, “16 years of work for the party in opposition and in government has been rewarded by the party with this leadership that has been conferred upon you. I am confident that Mahamudu Bawumia will be able to unite this party with the assistance of Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Addai-Nimoh and all the other contestants with the strong leadership that will take on the NDC in 2024 and inflict a third successive defeat on John Dramani Mahama,” he stressed.
While acknowledging the honour bestowed upon him by the party to serve in various capacities beginning in 2007 and then as President of Ghana for the last seven years, the President also thanked the party’s executives and members for demonstrating commitment and tradition that has highlighted the NPP’s democratic values and conduct.
National Chairman of the NPP, Stephen Ayesu Ntim, also reiterated his commitment to work with all members of the party to support Vice President Dr. Bawumia to win the 2024 elections.
Concession Speech
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong stated that the party was fair and transparent throughout the process, and hence accepted the election results.
He urged fellow members of the party to remain together as they work to ‘break the 8’ while vowing to give the NDC and its presidential candidate a “showdown” in 2024.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, for his part, described the election as historic and urged party members who had been offended by one type of criticism or another throughout the campaign to forgive one another and press on to win the 2024 elections.
Francis Addai-Nimoh also promised to work hard with all party members to support the flagbearer in carrying out the party’s agenda of winning the 2024 elections.
Solidarity Message
In a solidarity message, a delegation from the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom led by Laura Sanders described Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s victory as not only a great achievement but also a great responsibility to lead the party to victory in next year’s elections, wishing him well as he settles into his new role.
The ceremony, which saw the Accra Sports Stadium covered in the NPP colours, also brought together some past and current national executives of the party, including the General Secretary, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, the diplomatic corps, Chief of Staff, and Regional Ministers.
Others include MMDCE’s, the members of the Presidential Election Committee, Regional Executives, representatives of TESCON, various youth groups and other notable dignitaries of the party from the diaspora.
The ceremony was also interspersed with songs from some renowned musicians such as Nicholas Omane Acheampong, Praye and Pasco, noted for his debut album ‘2020’ for the NPP.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah