NPP Supporters in Kumasi Reject Bawumia as 2028 Candidate, Claim He Was a Poor Choice

A group of concerned New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters, known as the Concerned Traders of Kumasi, has publicly rejected the possibility of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia being selected as the party’s flagbearer for the 2028 general elections. The group is calling for a new candidate, one they believe would be better suited to lead the party and secure a victory after the NPP’s disappointing defeat in the 2024 elections.

During a press conference held on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, the spokesperson for the group, Benjamin Ofori, emphasized that the party’s failure in the last election was a clear indication that a change in leadership was necessary. Ofori attributed the loss to a series of unpopular government decisions and, more importantly, to what he described as the selection of the “wrong candidate” in Dr. Bawumia. According to Ofori, the assumption that Bawumia would secure votes from the northern regions and Islamic communities was unfounded, as these areas ended up voting heavily against the party, resulting in significant losses.

“The belief that Dr. Bawumia would win the northern and Islamic votes did not materialize as expected. The party faced considerable setbacks in these regions, causing us to lose ground that we had worked hard to gain since 1992,” Ofori explained. He highlighted the fact that Bawumia’s candidacy failed to deliver the desired results, with the NPP losing four out of the five northern regions, an outcome the group described as “embarrassing.”

The traders also pointed out that even in Bawumia’s home region, the party’s margin of victory was much smaller than in the 2020 elections, indicating a lack of enthusiasm among his traditional supporters. In contrast, former President John Mahama performed significantly better in his home region, securing a much larger victory margin.

In addition to the disappointing regional results, the Concerned Traders expressed frustration over the NPP’s inability to win any parliamentary seats in the Upper East and Upper West regions. The group believes that Bawumia’s candidacy failed to effectively engage key voter segments, including the Zongo communities and Christian voters, both of which are crucial to the party’s success. The NPP also lost a substantial number of parliamentary seats, with 58 seats across the country slipping away, while the party’s vote share in its traditional stronghold, the Ashanti Region, declined by 24%.

The group also took issue with comparisons between Dr. Bawumia’s performance and that of President Akufo-Addo in previous elections. Ofori rejected the notion that Bawumia’s electoral loss was similar to Akufo-Addo’s three failed bids for the presidency, noting that Akufo-Addo had consistently earned higher percentages of the vote in his defeats—49.7% in 2008 and 47.7% in 2012—compared to Bawumia’s 38.4% in 2024.

The Concerned Traders are now urging the NPP to reconsider its approach and avoid selecting Bawumia as the flagbearer for the upcoming election. They warned that repeating the same mistake would likely result in the party remaining in opposition for at least another 12 years. “If the NPP is serious about returning to power in 2028, it must select a candidate who is a proven leader, with a record of good governance and solid economic policies,” Ofori stressed.

In their call for a new direction, the traders group appealed to NPP members to resist any attempts to impose Dr. Bawumia as the party’s candidate for 2028. They urged the party to conduct a thorough reflection on the 2024 election results, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive review and selection process that prioritizes a candidate capable of uniting the party and winning the confidence of voters across all regions.

At the time of the press conference, the NPP leadership had yet to comment on the concerns raised by the Concerned Traders, who are continuing to advocate for a change in leadership. As the party moves forward with efforts to rebuild and strategize for the future, the voices of these Kumasi-based supporters reflect a growing sentiment within the party for a shift in approach ahead of the 2028 elections.