The presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed an absolute faith and sense of togetherness towards working with all the losers in Saturday’s party’s presidential primary.
The soft-spoken NPP flagbearer and also Vice President paid a glowing tribute to the strong determination and spirit of democracy shown by the aspirants to participate in the presidential election.
According to him, the aspirants’ participation in the just-ended presidential primary underpins the process and deepens the democratic credentials of the NPP, stressing that their energies, time, engagements, and resources have contributed to energizing the base of the party and preparing the party for the crucial battle of 2024.
“Now let us join together. I am determined to work with all of them and all our supporters to achieve the party’s ambition of “Breaking the 8”. That ambition requires the participation of all the aspirants, including Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Dr. Akoto Afriyie, Boakye Agyarko, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Hon. Joe Ghartey, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Addai Nimo, and Kojo Poku”, he called on them.
This was contained in his maiden speech as the flagbearer of the party shortly after he was declared the winner at the end of the primary and, by extension, the flagbearer of the party at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.
According to him, the victory was not his but for the rank and file of the party, particularly the hardworking grassroots members at the constituency, electoral area, and polling station levels who came out in their numbers to vote.
The vice president and now the flagbearer of the party thanked God for how far he has brought him, adding, “I have always believed that with hard work, honesty, discipline, and faith in God, one can fulfill one’s potential. It is possible!” “I have always worked very hard as a student, a lecturer, a deputy governor, a running mate, and a vice president. And on this historic day, I have been elected as Presidential Candidate and Leader of the Great New Patriotic Party! That is just surreal”, he stressed.
“I therefore stand here with profound gratitude and humility, having received the greatest honor of my life. The victory is not mine but ours, from Bogoso to Bolga, from Axim to Zarantinga, as the party has united and chosen a path to walk in unison”, he pointed out.
As a wise man once said,” A leader without any followers is just a man out for a walk”, and I can proudly say that I feel the support from each and every one of our members today as the poll results show that these are the highest percentage numbers for any first-time presidential candidate in the history of our party.
Giving a gist of his challenging journey through life, the NPP flagbearer hinted that “I attended Sakasaka primary school in Tamale, Tamale Secondary School, Buckingham University in the UK, Oxford University, and Simon Fraser University in Canada. However, it has not been an easy journey”. “My work experience includes a stint as a farm by-day worker (with my good friend Dr. Abass Awolu, who is now in the civil service) during holidays in my secondary school years, to driving a minicab (taxi) in London and cleaning dormitories in Canada with friends like Richard Oppong of Vancouver (as I studied for my PhD) to make ends meet”.
He affirmed that the NPP is a thriving democracy where leaders are elected, not anointed, as demonstrated by his fellow competitors in this race to partake in this crucial process.
