NPP 2024 Flagbearer Race: Bawumia Has No Foundation In NPP - Legon Political Don Declares

A political analyst and lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Kobby Mensah, has stated categorically that the Vice President Dr Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia has no foundation in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that could make him the Presidential Candidate after the exit of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo.

According to him, Dr Bawumia hasn’t grown into the “party stalwart” that could keep taps on party agitation and ensure coherence.

Therefore, Dr Mensah cautioned that the delegates of the NPP should not make the mistake of voting for the vice president in the NPP Presidential primaries to lead the NPP in the 2024 general election.

He pointed out that the Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen has a consolidated constituency over the period of having contested humiliation.

According to Dr Mensah, the other NPP leadership and their followers who have been in contests with Mr Alan and President Nana Addo Dankwa Addo-Addo, such as the Former Member of Parliament for Offinso North constituency, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, etc will find it humiliating to accept Dr Bawumia's leadership and that can destabilize the NPP. 

According to him, the NPP is an establishment party, and that the internal party campaign is fought on stewardship, loyalty, and electability - based on your ability to mobilize a coalition of votes.

 Dr Mensah explained that there has been a particular voting preference in Ghana and across the African continent that limits the winnability coefficient of young presidential aspirants during general elections.

He made this known to Paul Adom-Otchere on Good Evening Ghana show that Ghanaians, like most African countries easily trust their votes with elderly candidates than younger ones who contest elections in Ghana. 

Dr Mensah justified that the pattern of votes gives a solid basis to argue that John Mahama's chance of contesting Alan Kyeremanteng is quite slim.

“You realize that the Ghanaian voter often goes for an elderly person, and not only that, almost all African countries, you see a certain level of age. And I think a reason why President Mahama struggled was because of the age factor. People associated young persons with a certain lifestyle.”

The political analyst stressed that his argument is not based on any empirical research but on mere observations of voting preferences in Ghana and across Africa. 

Dr Mensah posited that the only factor that could alter his prediction is the pending primaries of the New Patriotic Party.

Albeit he believed his analogy could find prominence in the NPP's internal election, adding that "it's more of a contest between Alan and Dr Bawumia." 

Likening the situation between Alan Kyeremanteng and Dr Bawumia as the two main candidates in the NPP presidential contest, Dr Kobby Mensah remarked that it's highly possible that Alan would get the nod from delegates.

There are other candidates that had surfaced over the past months for the presidential ticket of the NPP. Joe Ghartey, former Minister for Railway Development, was the first to have announced his interest in the flagbearer ship.

Former Minister for Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko recently announced his interest too.

This brings to a total of two candidates who have openly declared their intention. 

Dr Bawumia and Mr Alan Kyeremanteng are yet to publicly declare their intention but the rumours and secret campaign make it obvious they will soon join the race when the party gives the green light for them to the campaign.

Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater Accra