President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
In an address to supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the Accra Sports Stadium, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo expressed his confidence in Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer-elect of the party.
Nana Akufo-Addo believes that Dr Bawumia has the ability to unite the NPP and secure victory in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Akufo-Addo urged party members to work together to prevent former President John Mahama from regaining power. “I am passing on the flagbearer role of our party after you have honored me to lead this party,” said Akufo-Addo. “I have done my best, but I am still left with one thing to do, and that is to help elect Bawumia as president. So let us pull together to ensure [John] Mahama does not return to power.”
The president expressed his confidence in Bawumia’s ability to unite the party and secure a successful defeat against Mahama. Akufo-Addo also thanked the party’s leadership at all levels for their hard work and dedication.
The NPP presidential primary saw Bawumia emerged victorious against three other aspirants.
Bawumia received 118,210 votes, representing 61.47% of the total votes cast. Kennedy Agyapong, the Assin Central MP, came in second with 71,996 votes (37.41%). Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Minister for Agriculture, placed third with 1,459 votes (0.76%), while Francis Addai-Nimoh, the former Mampong MP, garnered just 731 votes (0.41%).
A total of 192,446 delegates participated in the primary, resulting in a 94.63% turnout. Out of the total valid votes, 193,346 were cast, with 900 votes rejected.
Although Bawumia was predicted to win the presidential primary, his campaign team fell short of the 70% target they had set.
However, his victory positions him as the NPP’s flagbearer for the upcoming 2024 general elections.
By Vincent Kubi