In a much-anticipated move by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) branch in the United Kingdom, a demonstration aimed at disrupting Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s scheduled engagements during his UK visit fell short of expectations.
The turnout for the protest was notably lower than initially anticipated, as fewer participants gathered for the event.
The demonstration, which was intended to be a formidable display of opposition, was organized by the NDC in an effort to overshadow Vice President Bawumia’s activities, including a fundraising event and a town hall meeting while he was in the UK.
Despite the initial promotion and buildup surrounding the protest, it ultimately failed to gain the desired traction as the number of attendees did not meet the projected figures.
The NDC had to fly its deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande and former deputy organiser, Chief Nixon Biney to coordinate the demonstration but failed to spark.
Sammi Awuku and Anthony Abayifa Karbo, aides to the NPP flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia had to intervene by engaging the demonstrators in friendly chat leading to their disappearance.
Reports indicate that less than 20 NDC members turned out in London to voice their grievances against the Akufo-Addo administration, led by Dr. Bawumia on economic matters.
Attributing the low attendance to global economic challenges, party members from cities across the UK including Milton Keynes, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Luton, and Birmingham, who were supposed to join the London demonstration, did not materialize.
In response to the subdued protest, dissent within the NDC ranks emerged, with some members questioning the rationale behind the demonstration given the global economic climate. One member from Manchester remarked, “Ghana’s economic issues do not warrant such a demonstration considering the challenging times worldwide.”
Expressing skepticism surrounding the protest’s purpose, a member from London criticized the NDC’s approach, highlighting the need for pragmatic solutions in addressing economic woes rather than engaging in what they perceived as political theatrics.
The NDC’s efforts to make a strong statement during Vice President Bawumia’s visit faced a setback with the low turnout at the demonstration.
This outcome raises questions about the effectiveness of the NDC’s strategy and the level of support for their cause among the diaspora Ghanaians in the UK.
Concurrently, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, while addressing members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the UK at a fundraising event held at the Landmark London Hotel, reiterated his administration’s achievements and policy initiatives.
Dr. Bawumia underscored his leadership role in advancing 33 groundbreaking policies compared to his political opponent, emphasizing his track record as a testament to his capabilities.
Looking forward to the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in December 2024, Dr. Bawumia outlined his campaign strategy, eager to shift gears into higher campaign intensity levels starting in July to amplify the reach and impact of his vision for Ghana’s future.
The NPP expressed confidence in securing victory in the upcoming elections, buoyed by Dr. Bawumia’s leadership and governance track record.
Asserting unwavering support for Dr. Bawumia’s candidacy, members of the NPP-UK underscored their commitment to advocating for his policies and promoting the party’s vision in ensuring a successful campaign season leading up to the crucial electoral contest in December.
With a focus on accountability and visionary leadership, the NPP-UK pledged to stand behind Dr. Bawumia’s bid for the presidency, highlighting his transformative impact on Ghana’s socio-economic landscape through innovative policy initiatives.
Meanwhile, addressing members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the United Kingdom at their fundraising dinner dance organised together with the Young Executives Forum (YEF) at the Landmark London Hotel on Saturday, 22 June 2024, to raise money among members of the NPP-UK to support the 2024 campaign,
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President and presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party
stated that as Vice President under the Akufo-Addo administration, he initiated and championed a total of 33 cutting-edge policies whereas his contender, John Dramani Mahama during his tenure as Vice President and President, cannot boast of a single policy he initiated.
On the strength of this achievement, Dr Bawumia said he has scored 33 as against Mr Mahama’s Zero, representing a pass for which reason he believes Ghanaians should promote him to be president of the Republic in the upcoming 7 December 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
“Most people say I have been the most impactful Vice President in the history of Ghana, and that is based on my performance. If you look at the policies I have initiated and championed in the last 8 years, you can count 33 policies, the Vice President told his audience.
“Can you think of one policy, just one policy that John Mahama has initiated? So, the score between Bawumia and Mahama is 33 for Bawumia and Zero for Mahama.
“So, when it comes to the work of a Vice President, I have passed the exams, so I should be promoted as president of the Republic of Ghana. I should be promoted, and I want you to promote me,” Dr Mahamudu Bawumia further remarked in his address to the NPP faithful.
Dr Bawumia pointed out that one of his primary objectives should he be elected as president by the people of Ghana, will be to seek to promote a mindset of possibilities among the citizenry instead of the attitude of impossibilities that appears to dominate the current way of thinking at various levels in the nation.
The NPP leader reported to the party faithful in London that the first round of his 2024 campaign, which started on 29 April and ended on 12 June 2024, has been largely successful and impactful.
He indicated that from the month of July, he will be shifting to the 2nd gear and reach the 3rd and 4th gear by November 2024.
“The campaign has started in earnest. We have done a tour of the 16 regions, and we just finished with Ashanti. I would like to thank the Ashanti regional chairman and all the campaign team in Ashanti for the massive show of force that everybody saw when we got there,” Dr Mahamudu Bawumia remarked.
“I think going through the 16 regions, it is clear that the narrative is changing. There were people who, six months ago, did not believe that the NPP was going to win the 2024 elections, but I think that after talking about our record and talking about our vision for this country, minds have changed dramatically and NPP is in the position to win the 2024 elections”.
“We are not going to be complacent. We are just beginning. This first tour of the 16 regions is the first gear of the campaign. We are going to go into the second gear in July, the third and fourth gear by November, and I believe at every stage, we are going to up the anthem,” Dr Bawumia further remarked.
General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Frimpong Koduah, in a brief solidarity message to members of the NPP-UK, said Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the entire NPP are eternally grateful to the NPP-UK, the premier branch, for its contributions to the success of the NPP as a party over the last 32 years.
He noted that the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections are crucial for the development of the country because the NPP has a candidate who is qualified to run for two terms compared with the NDC candidate who can only serve in office for just for one term in the unlikely event that he is elected as president.
“The question is, between a candidate who can run for two terms (8 years) and one who can only run for one term (4 years), who should be given the chance to be president. If we choose Dr Bawumia, he will be forced to deliver because he will have the opportunity to come back to Ghanaians after four years to ask them to renew his mandate,” Justin Frimpong Koduah said.
“The NDC candidate, on the other hand, will not be coming back to Ghanaians to renew his mandate so he will not be accountable. I urge you all to let your friends and family members back home in Ghana know that there are challenges and that these challenges are global. But with the visionary leader, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, as president, Ghana will get to the promised land,” he added.
Support
Kingsley Adumattah Agyapong (Wofa K), chairman of the NPP-UK branch in his remarks assured the presidential candidate of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the NPP-UK’s unwavering support, noting that the NPP-UK believes in his leadership, and his ability to take Ghana to new heights.
“NPP-UK will work tirelessly to ensure we secure every constituency allocated to us in the December 2024 elections. We understand the significance of this task and we are prepared to rise to the occasion.
“Our dedicated members and effective communicators will be at the forefront championing Dr Bawumia’s policies and advocating for the NPP’s vision across all platforms. Dr Bawumia, your contributions as Vice President have been very remarkable,” Kingsley Adumattah Agyapong said.
“Your involvement in over 30 policies ranging from the introduction of mobile money interoperability to the digitalisation of public services has already begun to reshape Ghana’s socio-economic landscape. Your leadership in these initiatives has proved that you are not just a visionary but also a pragmatic leader capable of delivering tangible results,” Adumattah Agyapong added.
By Vincent Kubi