The 2024 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called for unity in the party, following the electoral defeat it has suffered.
According to him, it was important that the supporters focus on strengthening the party for future election.
Dr. Bawumia, who was addressing members of the Korley Klottey constituency at his residence on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, when they visited to commiserate with him, advised against blame games, saying that would destroy the party.
His plea follows pronouncements by some party supporters blaming persons in the hierarchy for the defeat.
Though Dr. Bawumia shared in the sentiment of the aggrieved party people, he urged for calm.
“Blame games will destroy us. Let us stand together. Stop the blame games. Let’s look at the future. Let’s concentrate on strengthening the party. It is not about individual ambition. I know we will come out successful.”
On the results of Saturday’s elections, Dr. Bawumia said the expectation of the NPP was not met, but the NPP lives to fight another day, as according to him, the battle has not ended.
He stated that supporters of the NPP did not vote, a situation that reduced the 2020 numbers of the NPP by 40%.
He posited that the NPP free-handed the election to its opponent, the NDC.
“We couldn’t meet our expectations; that is why we conceded. That doesn’t mean it is over. We lost a battle, not the war. I want to encourage you all.
“In this election, we were the ones that gave the victory to NDC. They didn’t win because their numbers didn’t change from 2020.
“Ours reduced by 40 percent. I want you all to understand that united we stand, but divided we fall. I have seen many people in pain, but I have an abiding belief in God. His ways are not our ways.
In a related development, Dr. Bawumia has expressed concern about what he described as the embarrassing state of lawlessness and thuggery being unleashed on state institutions by supporters of the NDC.
“I wish to call on the President-elect, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, to exhibit statesmanship by reining in his supporters in order to preserve the peace and unity of the country. There have been many incidents of NDC members besieging collation centres with offensive weapons to forcibly declare NDC parliamentary candidates as winners of some parliamentary contests. We believe that this is not in keeping with the democratic culture we are all trying to nurture.”
