The 2024 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has appealed to party delegates to retain him as the party’s flagbearer ahead of the 2028 general election, arguing that consistency in candidate selection has historically delivered electoral victories in Ghana.

Speaking to delegates in Adansi Asokwa at the start of a three-day engagement with constituency executives in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Bawumia cited Ghana’s electoral trends under the Fourth Republic to make his case.

“The data shows that maintaining faith with a candidate over more than one election cycle pays, irrespective of the party,” he said.

He pointed to examples such as former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who lost in 1996 but won in 2000 after being retained, and Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, who contested in 2000 and 2004 before finally winning in 2008.

Similarly, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo lost in 2008 and 2012 but was victorious in 2016 after being consistently presented by the NPP.

Dr. Bawumia also highlighted President John Dramani Mahama’s trajectory, noting that despite defeats in 2016 and 2020, the NDC kept faith with him, leading to his victory in 2024.

He further emphasised a recurring pattern in Ghana’s elections, where every president since 1992 has handed over to someone they had previously contested against.

“With President Mahama set to hand over in 2029, if the trend continues, there is no reason why it shouldn’t be to Dr. Bawumia — unless we present a new candidate.

The data shows no first-timer has ever won Ghana’s presidential elections,” he argued.

The former Vice President underscored that he remains the “most marketed, prepared, and winnable candidate” within the NPP, stressing that his track record, temperament, and unifying nature position him as the best option for the party in 2028.

He urged delegates to back his candidacy in the upcoming flagbearer contest scheduled for January 31, 2026, saying their decision would be key to securing the NPP’s return to power.