Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, over the weekend, broke the long jinx that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is an Akan Party that unwelcomes anybody from other ethnic persuasion.
He polled 118,210 votes, representing 61.48% to claim victory, becoming the first flagbearer of northern extraction since the party came into being in 1992, in a fiercely contested race to elect a flagbearer for the NPP.
His main contender, Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, also polled 71,996 votes, representing 35.52%, while two others, Dr. Akoto Afriyie and Addai Nimo, polled 1459 and 781, respectively.
Giving his maiden speech as the flagbearer-elect at the Accra Sports Stadium, the economist said, “Some analysts were skeptical about my chances and others confidently dismissed the possibility of the NPP electing a candidate from the Northern part of the country. They clearly misconstrued the party’s conservatism to mean tribalism or regionalism. I was certain that they misunderstood this great party and its values because I knew our values of rewarding hard work and dedication would triumph. I knew it was possible.”
“Today’s (Saturday’s) emphatic decision by the over 200,000 delegates of the NPP, the grassroots of the party,” the Vice President intoned, “reaffirms my knowledge and belief that the NPP is truly an inclusive national party.”
The new NPP flagbearer intimated that, for a boy, born in the heartland of Tamale, with a hometown in Walewale, to be elected as a Presidential Candidate of Ghana’s largest political party, speaks to the character of the party.
“The NPP is a party that is all-embracing, a party that rewards hard work, loyalty, and commitment to its values!” he added.
The delegates, by their decision last Saturday, have resoundingly dismissed any doubts that the NPP is inclusive and rewards hard work.
“From virtually every constituency in the country, the message has been the same: In the NPP, we do not care about where you hail from. We are tolerant of Ghana’s religious diversity. We elect those deserving of leadership, those who are capable of governing, and those with proven traits of integrity, incorruptibility, and hard work,” Dr. Bawumia said.
The former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana poured his heart out when he said “I feel the support from each and every one of our members today (Saturday) as the poll results show that these are the highest percentage numbers for any first-time presidential candidate in the history of our party. We said it was possible.”
Going forward, Dr Bawumia called on the other contenders to join him saying that “I am determined to work with all of them and all our supporters to achieve the Party’s ambition of “Breaking the 8”.
That ambition, he stated, required the participation of all the aspirants, including Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Dr. Akoto Afriyie, Boakye Agyarko, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Hon. Joe Ghartey, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Addai Nimo and Kojo Poku.
Meanwhile, Assin Central MP and a flagbearer aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, graciously accepted defeat to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
In his concessionary address, Mr Agyapong pledged his full support to Dr. Bawumia and the entire New Patriotic Party to break the eight-year cycle.
His pledge stems from the transparent and peaceful nature of the election.
“I believe the party has been fair and transparent, and the only thing I have always been preaching is that this election is fair and my grassroots people have spoken. I pledge my support that we are going to work tirelessly to break the eight.”
