The northern faction of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dombo tradition, has appealed to the party faithful to support the Vice President, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia’s quest to lead the party in 2024.
Dombo is one of the three traditions that birthed the United Party, which metamorphosed into the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In “a humble plea,” contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the family remarked that the appeal was a “national voluntary call that transcends ethnic or tribal boundaries.”
Signed by Naa Tikang Diedong Dombo, Duori Naa, the family said it had never made such a request until now, adding that the plea was not a case of entitlement or making a “premature call for our turn.”
However, the family argues that based on the concept of the oneness of a family, the washing of the soup bowl should revolve around.
“It is a humble plea and an appeal to the rank and file at all levels of our party to support the Presidential primary bid of H.E. the Vice President, Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia.
“We are making this plea for the first time since the marriage that brought forth the UP tradition.
It is a national voluntary call that transcends ethnic or tribal boundaries. It is not based on any ethnocentrism or sense of entitlement, but on the grounds of every healthy marriage and mutual co-existence, a mutuality that presupposes and disposes of mutual respect,” the family asserted.
Going into the primary, the arguments have been that both Danquah and Busia have ascended the highest thrown in the 4th Republic, concluding that it is time for Dombo to be represented.
The Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition, which originates from the Akans, Ashantis and the Northerns, have seen former President Kufuor represent the Ashantis and currently President Akufo-Addo holding it for the Akyems.
KUFUOR PRIMARIES
Making a point on the relevance of the plea, the family said that after the era of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, his then Vice President, Aliu Mahama, who is of the Dombo faction, contested the 2007 primary, but lost to Nana Akufo-Addo, now the President.
“For reasons of not being seen as seeking entitlement, we of this faction of our great tradition always bury our heads in the sand. We, however, feel that this time around, we should appeal to the sympathy of our great party faithful and loyalists to rally behind the second gentleman of the land, who has demonstrated the abilities to capably succeed HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and to lead us into winning the 2024 general elections.”
JOURNEY
The Dombo family has argued that, based on the constructive engagement of its Patriach, Chief Simon Diedong Dombo, in the politics of Ghana, his offspring believe he had the support of his northern peers.
They argue further that, considering the unity and support, they believe some northern folks might have subdued personal ambitions to help Chief Dombo assume the leadership mantle at the time.
The statement acknowledged the various contributions of all the northern political forerunners, including Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Chief Lawyer Abeifa Karbo, and Dr. Hilla Liman.
“Brethren of our great political tradition, since the formation of the United Party as a result of the Avoidance of Discrimination Act (ADA) 1957 (C.A. 38), we on this side of the tradition, for the sake of unity of our tradition, have always thrown our support behind whoever gets elected at our presidential primaries.
“This is what democracy entails, and as we of this tradition stand firm and hold high these values, we should be the last to want to ask for any favours that may, in one way or another, diminish these credentials,” the family wrote.
CAMPAIGN
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, after submitting his nomination form last Friday, immediately commenced his official campaign.
He has since been meeting delegates in the Greater Accra Region, including those at Ablekuma South, Ayawaso East, La Dadekotopon, Ada, Sege, Ningo Prampram, Kpone Katamanso, Krowor, Ledzokuku, Klottey Korle, Odododiodio and Dome-Kwabenya constituencies.
