As delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) converge this weekend to choose a flagbearer for the next electoral cycle, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, one of the candidates for the race appears to walk into what many party watchers would describe as a political lion’s den.
The former Vice President and the NPP’s presidential candidate in the 2024 general election remains the man to beat, at least on paper.
Given that several opinion polls have put him ahead of his rivals, buoyed by his national profile, long-standing grassroots engagements and the institutional memory he carries from eight years at the apex of government.
For instance, Global Info Analytics predicts 57% for Bawumia, followed by Kennedy Agyapng hovering around 23%. The rest, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Dr. Adutwum and Kwabena Agyapong appear not to be a match.
In other words, the race is a straight match between Bawumia and Kennedy, given that other poll cum prophetical proclamation puts Kennedy ahead.
Beyond the numbers, however, lies a bruising internal contest that has turned unusually combative, most especially from the camp of Kennedy Agyapong.
Supporters of Kennedy Agyapong and Bawumia appear to be at each other’s throat with allegations and counter allegations which have made the race combative between the two camps.
The recent meeting of the candidates to sign a peace pact, ahead of the elections, speaks everything about the combative nature of the race between the two camps.
Unlike previous flagbearer contests where incumbency or experience conferred a clear advantage, Dr. Bawumia’s role as recently elected flagbearer appears to have become both his strength and his burden.
For his opponents, the 2024 electoral massive defeat the party suffered at the hands of the NDC and his quick concession is the central exhibit in a case built to question his electability and leadership going forward.
In private meetings and on public platforms, like social media, rivals argue that the party cannot afford to “recycle” a candidate who has already tested the national electorate and fallen short.
This narrative has emboldened the other aspirants, especially the outspoken former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
Mr. Agyapong has adopted an aggressive campaign posture, positioning himself as the blunt-talking alternative who dares to confront uncomfortable truths within the party.
His rhetoric, often sharp and uncompromising, has been directed squarely at Dr. Bawumia, whom he accuses of presiding over economic hardships that weakened the NPP’s appeal in 2024.
The tone of the contest has, in effect, placed Dr. Bawumia on the defensive—an unusual position for a candidate who once enjoyed near-universal acclaim as the party’s chief economic communicator.
While he continues to sell a message of party unity, innovation and lessons learnt from past governance, his challengers appear less inclined to pull punches. To them, this is not merely a contest of ideas, but a referendum on the party’s recent past.
Within NPP ranks, opinions are sharply divided. Some delegates argue that Dr. Bawumia represents stability and continuity at a time when the party must rebuild its structures and reconnect with floating voters.
They point to his calm demeanour, international exposure and deep understanding of statecraft as assets that should not be discarded lightly.
“Dr. Bawumia is already marketed and is marketable and we risk losing the 2028 election without Bawumia on the ballot”, Sammy Awuku, one of the followers of Bawumia told delegates during his Effia Kwesimintsim campaign tour.
Others, however, believe the party needs a dramatic reset. They see the flagbearer slot as an opportunity to signal change, distance the NPP from voter fatigue and energise a base still smarting from electoral defeat.
For this camp, Dr. Bawumia’s presence at the center of the previous administration makes him a lightning rod for public frustration, fair or not.
Caught between these competing sentiments, Dr. Bawumia has chosen a measured approach—campaigning vigorously but avoiding direct confrontation.
His allies argue that the harsh attacks betray nervousness among his rivals, suggesting that despite the noise, he remains the frontrunner.
They maintain that internal polls and delegate engagements tell a more favourable story than the public sparring would suggest.
Still, the optics are unmistakable. The former Vice President enters the weekend contest surrounded by rivals who sense vulnerability and are determined to exploit it.
For Dr. Bawumia, the delegate election is more than a numbers game. It is a test of resilience, relevance and redemption within his own political family.
Winning would reaffirm his standing and silence critics, at least temporarily. Losing, on the other hand, would mark a dramatic fall for a man once seen as the party’s future.
As delegates cast their ballots, one thing is certain: Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is not merely contesting an election.
He is stepping into the lion’s den, where survival depends not just on popularity, but on the ability to withstand the fiercest internal challenge of his political career.
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