Vice President Bawumia showcasing the forms
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia formally entered the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential race on Tuesday, when members of his campaign picked up nomination forms for him.
The forms were picked by former Chief Executive Officer of the Bui Power Authority, Fred Oware, who was accompanied by the Director-General of the National Lottery Authority, Sammi Awuku, and former Ghana’s Ambassador to South Africa, Dr. George Ayisi Boateng.
This comes after the party’s national executives rejected an earlier attempt by members of the ‘Bawumia Fun Club’ to pick the form for him, backed by a GH¢50,000 cheque.
On Friday, May 26, the group led by its founder, Ntim Jakari, attempted to pick presidential nomination papers for Dr. Bawumia to run for the NPP flagbearership, but the party leadership said the group lacked authorisation from the vice president’s campaign team to do so.
Mr. Oware told the media after picking the nomination forms that the exercise was a private assignment, which did not require supporters of the Vice President.
Mr. Awuku, for his part, stated that Dr. Bawumia would be available to speak with the media once the forms were filed.
The Vice President formally announced to members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament that he would run for the NPP flagbearership towards the 2024 general election.
At a meeting with NPP MPs in Parliament on May 2, 2023, the Vice President reportedly told the lawmakers that he had come to seek their blessings for his bid to lead the ruling party.
According to sources, Dr. Bawumia informed the lawmakers that he had prayed and done self-introspection about his decision and came to the conclusion the MPs are key partners if he was to be successful in his bid.
The Vice President, who spoke passionately about the importance of effective collaboration and partnership between the party’s presidential candidate and the NPP MPs, stated that he was ready to work with them all to help the NPP achieve its ultimate goal of forming the next government with a majority in Parliament.
The meeting, which began around 7:00pm, was well attended by members of the caucus, with Dr. Bawumia receiving cheers when he informed the MPs that with unity and perseverance, the NPP could break the eight-year streak because “it is possible.”
He reportedly informed the MPs that he would return to create the proper construct and explain why they should support him after he had picked the nomination.
He was accompanied to the meeting by his spokesperson, Dr. Gideon Boako, former Communications Director of the party, Nana Akomea, and Fred Oware, the first Chief Executive Officer of Bui Power Authority.
On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, Dr. Bawumia hinted at his presidential aspiration with the social media post: “It is possible,” taking inspiration from the scriptures, with the Ghanaian flag and the NPP flag clasped.
He has been engaging and courting the support of key members of the party, including President Akufo-Addo and former President John Agyekum Kufuor, for his bid.
His meeting with the Majority Caucus was considered as a warm-up for the official big announcement.
He is now among six people who have picked nomination forms to run in the NPP presidential primaries, including Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Food and Agriculture Minister; former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko; Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku; former NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong; and former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai-Nimoh.
The NPP has scheduled November 4, 2023 as the date for its presidential primaries to choose a candidate for the main election in 2024.
If more than five people file to participate in the primaries, the party will host a special congress on August 26 to limit the number of candidates to five for the main primary.
The NPP began accepting nominations for presidential primaries on May 26 and it is expected to end on June 24, 2023.
By Ernest Kofi Adu