In a show of unity and solidarity, all the candidates who contested for the NPP Presidential race have pledged their support to newly elected leader, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The pledge was made at a ceremony held at the Accra Sports Stadium, where party members gathered to celebrate the peaceful conclusion of the flagbearer race.
One notable presence at the event was Kennedy Agyapong, the Assin Central Member of Parliament, who gained popularity for his controversial comments during the campaign period.
Agyapong, who conceded defeat, commended the party and all stakeholders for their contribution to a successful election.
He pledged his support to help the party break the eight-year cycle and give its opponents a “showdown”.
Former Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, expressed confidence in Dr. Bawumia’s leadership and believed that he would lead the party to a victory in the upcoming general elections next year.
He called on party members to let go of the past and forge ahead. Similarly, former Mampong Member of Parliament, Francis Addai Nimoh, congratulated Dr. Bawumia on his victory and pledged his commitment to building the party by urging all members to bury their differences.
President Akufo-Addo, who has been the leader of the NPP since 2007, officially handed over the leadership of the party to Vice President Bawumia. This marks the end of an era, as it is the first time in 16 years that the NPP leadership will not be under President Akufo-Addo’s tutelage. According to the Constitution of the NPP, the flagbearer becomes the de facto leader, making Dr. Bawumia the first person of Northern origin and a Muslim to lead the party.
President Akufo-Addo stressed the importance of retaining the NPP in government during his address, cautioning Ghanaians against returning governance to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by former President John Dramani Mahama.
He called on party members to work hard to secure victory in the 2024 general elections and expressed his commitment to supporting the party in achieving this goal.
Prof. Mike Oquaye, Chairman of the Presidential Election Committee, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for ensuring an incident-free election. He emphasized that it is now up to Dr. Bawumia, as the winner, to unite the party for the upcoming general election.
With the NPP’s commitment to unity and the support of all presidential aspirants, the party aims to secure a third consecutive victory against the NDC in the 2024 presidential election.
With President Akufo-Addo’s leadership and Dr. Bawumia’s new role as the party’s leader, the NPP remains determined to maintain its position of governance in Ghana.
By Vincent Kubi