A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Akan Constituency of the Oti Region, Mr Frank Adjei-Worlanyo, has urged party delegates to back former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the most strategic and experienced candidate capable of leading the party to victory in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Adjei-Worlanyo described Dr Bawumia as the “battle-tested, marketable leader” the party needs to reclaim political power and break the so-called “eight-year cycle” that has historically affected ruling parties in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
“We are not merely selecting a flagbearer at the upcoming Congress on January 31, 2026—we are choosing the leader who can defeat the NDC in 2028. That leader is Dr Mahamudu Bawumia,” the statement said.
Mr Adjei-Worlanyo argued that the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections should not be blamed on Dr Bawumia’s leadership, but rather on broader global economic challenges that affected many incumbent governments worldwide.
He cited inflationary pressures, post-COVID recovery struggles, and domestic economic frustrations—especially among bondholders and pensioners—as key issues that influenced the electorate, rather than a rejection of Dr. Bawumia’s vision or competence.
According to him, the NDC capitalised on public discontent but did not offer viable alternative solutions during the 2024 campaign.
“The 2024 race was not about a better NDC manifesto; it was a protest vote driven by economic hardship. The NDC had no record to defend and could promise anything without scrutiny,” he added.
Mr Adjei-Worlanyo, who is also the Akan Constituency Communications Officer of the NPP, outlined a series of reforms and achievements led by Dr. Bawumia, including the implementation of the Ghana Card, the Mobile Money Interoperability platform, the Digital Property Addressing System, and the drone delivery system for medical supplies to rural areas.
“These innovations are not campaign rhetoric—they are tangible legacies of a forward-thinking leader solving real problems with modern tools,” he stated.
He warned that overlooking Dr Bawumia in favour of “untested” candidates would be a costly mistake for the party, especially as the NDC would be running on an incumbency record in 2028, unlike in 2024.
“Who would you rather send into that battle—a fresh face the NDC can define from scratch, or a known leader whose capabilities are already proven and recognised by Ghanaians?” he asked.
Mr Adjei-Worlanyo also credited Dr Bawumia with maintaining party unity amid recent internal disagreements and called him “a unifier” who has remained loyal to the party and built bridges across its various factions.
He urged delegates to “choose experience over experiment” and support the Vice President in the party’s upcoming presidential primaries.
“Let us not be swayed by internal propaganda or temporary political noise. Let us make the strategic choice for 2028—let us back Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to break the eight,” he concluded.
The NPP is expected to hold its National Delegates Congress in January 2026 to elect its flagbearer for the next presidential election.