Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Vice President and 2024 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has voiced strong confidence in the party’s chances of regaining power in the 2028 general elections.
Dr. Bawumia told NPP members in London during a meeting with the party’s diaspora branch that historical trends in Ghana’s political landscape benefit opposition parties.
According to him, it has frequently been difficult for political parties in Ghana to win national elections with a new candidate after an incumbent president has served two terms. He mentioned this pattern as a fundamental reason for his optimism.
“Our political history suggests that it is very difficult for a first-time presidential candidate to win an election in Ghana… so there is a sense that in 2028 NDC is going to bring a candidate for a first time, I believe we will have an advantage all things being equal over that new candidate coming in 2028,” according to him.
He also stated that another important reason he believes the NPP would return to power is because the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) may be unable to keep the various promises it made to Ghanaians prior to winning the 2024 election.
“In opposition, they made so many promises and told a lot of stories about what they were going to do, and now that they have come into government, they said that when they come, they will reduce the cost of living… prices are rather going up….,” Dr. Bawumia wrote.
The former Vice President also apologised to party members for the NPP’s poor performance in the previous general elections.
“The NPP worked hard, without a doubt, but we didn’t do everything perfect. We got a lot of things wrong, and I think that, on my own behalf and on behalf of the party, I apologise to everyone for not getting the figures right,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia is optimistic about the future, noting, “I believe that, by the grace of God, if we are given another opportunity, we will get many things right, because we have learnt the lessons that will guide us forward.”
Following the party’s resounding defeat in the 2024 elections, a 12-member committee led by former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, investigated the causes of the failure and reported its conclusions to the party’s leadership.
However, the party has refused to reveal the contents of the report, claiming that it is not intended for public consumption.
The NPP suffered substantial defeats in both the presidential and legislative elections. Mr John Mahama, running on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) platform, received 6,328,397 votes, or 56.55%, while Dr Mahamudu Bawumia received 4,657,304 votes, or 41.61%.