Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged flagbearer hopefuls of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to desist from making derogatory remarks and focus on a campaign devoid of insults ahead of the party’s primary on January 31, 2026.
Dr. Bawumia, who made the call when about 490 youth organisers picked and presented nomination forms to him yesterday, said negative campaign utterances has the potential of affecting the party, as political opponents are waiting to use it against the NPP in the 2028 elections.
He said “… I want this flagbearership election to be conducted with decorum. We are not in a campaign of insults, and we should not be in a campaign of insults. It should be about ideas, and that is what will capture the imagination of Ghanaians. ”
According to the former Vice President, divisions within the party may not only affect NPP members but also its fortunes in the 2028 elections.
“When we bring down other people, we bring down the party. Our messages will be taken by our opponents, and they will use them against us.
“I will not, and you will never hear me insulting any aspirant. Because when this election is over, we have to contest a general election. And if we divide ourselves today, we will have difficulty in uniting for a general election tomorrow. So, let us begin the process with unity, and end with unity because that will bring victory in 2028,” he added.
Dr. Bawumia expressed appreciation to the youth organisers for picking the nomination forms to enable him contest for the party’s flagbearer position.
He stated that the initiative by the youth shows a remarkable vote of confidence in him, while commending the youth for their commitment to the future of the party.
“The youth are a major asset for our party,” he said, and added, “They represent the future, and they are assets not only for the party but for the nation. I want to thank them for this major vote of confidence.
“490 out of 552 came to me and requested that they wanted to put their might together and pick my forms for me. I agreed because that was a remarkable vote of confidence in me,” he stated.
The NPP opened nominations for the flagbearership race on July 29, 2025.
Other flagbearer hopefuls who have picked nomination forms to contest the election include Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe and former Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, former General Secretary of the NPP, Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and Dr. Bryan Acheampong.
According to the party, vetting of the aspirants will start from September 15 to 22, 2025.
The former Vice President also used the occasion to call for a respectful and idea-driven campaign as the party prepares for what is expected to be a competitive internal contest.
“Let us see that I want this flagbearership election to be conducted with decorum,” he urged.
He urged party members and fellow aspirants to uphold a spirit of decency and respect as the race for the party’s leadership gains momentum.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah