Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has formally announced to members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament that he will run for the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) towards the 2024 general election.
At a meeting with NPP MPs in Parliament on Tuesday night, 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.
The formal announcement sets the stage for a potential showdown with Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen and others, including Kennedy Agyapong, who have previously expressed their intentions to run for the NPP flagbearer position.
Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has since expressed the caucus’ heartfelt thanks to Dr. Bawumia for formally alerting NPP MPs of his decision to run for the party’s presidential candidacy.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh, who is the NPP MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, is one of over 100 Majority Caucus members who have openly declared their support for Vice President Bawumia.
He believes the Vice President can help the ruling party in breaking the eight-year political cycle.
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 is considered as a warm-up for the official big announcement ahead of the party’s nominations opening.
He is among ten people who have stated their desire to run in the NPP presidential primaries, including former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen, Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, and Owusu Afriyie-Akoto, former Food and Agriculture Minister.
The others are former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko; former Railway Development Minister, Joe Ghartey; 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 is slated to begin accepting nominations for presidential primaries on May 26 and end on June 24, 2023.
On the same day, the Majority Caucus met with Kwabena Agyapong, another NPP presidential aspirant.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House