The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2024 flag bearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has indicated that he wouldn’t have contested the party’s presidential candidacy again if the Prof. Michael Oquaye report had implicated him.
However, the report found no evidence to support the speculated reasons for the party’s defeat, which were investigated thoroughly, being the reason he is still contesting to lead the NPP come 2028.
Prior to the release of the report, there were speculations that the former Vice President’s linkage to one of the feuding factions in the long-standing Bawku conflict could be responsible for the party’s defeat.
Additionally, there were concerns about his religious background as a Muslim, leading many to conclude that the party lost votes from many voters who are largely Christians.
Addressing some party delegates ahead of the presidential primary slated for Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Abuakwa, Dr. Bawumia disclosed that prior to the release of the report, he had informed former President William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, that he would not contest for the flagbearership again if the investigative report cited him as the reason for the party’s defeat.
He said he had no intention of prioritising his personal interests at the expense of the party.
“Before the arrival of the Oquaye report, I was in a meeting with Nana Akufo-Addo and some other people, and during the discussion, we were listing possible factors that could have contributed to our defeat, including the Bawku conflict and my religious background as a Muslim,” he said in Twi on Friday, September 12, 2025.
“I told him that if the report concludes we lost because of my faith or the Mamprusi-Kusasi impasse, I’ll step down; I won’t contest again,” he added.
“That’s what I told my father, Nana Akufo-Addo. I don’t want to push my interests ahead of the party’s; rather, the party’s interests must come first. So, I said I’d sacrifice any ambition for the party’s sake if they presented me as the reason for our loss. But the Oquaye report, Ashanti report and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation report all came with the same conclusion; religion, tribe, were not factors in the 2024 election.”
Ghanaians will honour Bawumia’s hard work, let’s present him in 2028 – 2nd Deputy Speaker
