Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Newly elected New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called for unity and collective action within the party, urging members to put behind them the bruising contest for leadership and rally together ahead of the 2028 general election.
Addressing party supporters, executives and other dignitaries at the NPP headquarters in Accra on Saturday night, after his victory in the party’s presidential primary, Dr. Bawumia said the time had come for cooperation, stressing that internal cohesion remains the party’s strongest asset.
Describing the contest as a “blistering battle,” Dr. Bawumia expressed gratitude to God, party delegates, the Electoral Commission, security agencies and the media for ensuring a peaceful, transparent and credible process. He said the victory belonged not to one individual, but to the entire party.
“Our tradition has an enviable history of uniting around the individual considered best placed to lead the party into national elections,” he noted, adding that the outcome reflected the collective wisdom of NPP members and must be respected by all, regardless of whom they supported during the race.
Dr. Bawumia appealed to supporters of all aspirants to embrace the principle that “after competition comes cooperation,” warning that loyalty to the party should not be conditional on personal preferences.
He said disagreements were natural in democratic politics but must never weaken the party’s shared purpose.
“My election communicates a broad-based appeal across the party, and I intend to draw on that capital to unite us as a critical step towards winning power in 2028,” he said, invoking the Akan proverb that unity brings strength while division leads to failure. “United we stand, and divided we fall,” he stressed.
The former Vice President announced plans for targeted engagements across the country, including consultations with aggrieved elders, youth groups and grassroots supporters, to rebuild trust and revitalise the party’s structures.
He assured supporters who abstained from voting in the last general election that reforms were already underway to make the NPP more responsive and reflective of their concerns.
Dr. Bawumia also placed strong emphasis on internal discipline, insisting that the party must restore order in its operations, communications and conduct. “An army that lacks discipline will struggle to win its battles,” he cautioned.
He urged supporters to celebrate his victory with restraint and to actively reach out to one another to heal divisions.
Paying tribute to past NPP leaders and fellow aspirants, Dr. Bawumia expressed confidence that with unity, discipline and renewed energy, the party would reorganise and secure victory in the 2028 elections.
“The polls have ended, but our push for a stronger NPP has just begun,” he declared.
By Ernest Kofi Adu