Manasseh Warns NPP Against Selective Blame in Flagbearer Race

Ghanaian journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has cautioned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against attributing the party’s governmental failures solely to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during its internal presidential contest.

In a Facebook post, Awuni argued that while Bawumia was part of a “failed regime,” singling him out for blame is inconsistent when other key figures from the same administration are competing against him.

“Dr. Bawumia has been part of a failed regime,” Awuni wrote, directly quoting his post. “But… I will also explain why Bawumia’s failure in that regime is enough to disqualify his internal opponents if that failure were to form the basis for his rejection in the internal race,” he stated, attributing this argument to his forthcoming article.

Awuni asserted that Bawumia’s internal critics lack credibility. “You cannot pretend Bawumia was the only person in the Akufo-Addo government. If he failed, then all of them failed — and that includes those now claiming moral superiority to lead the party,” he wrote, sourcing this criticism directly to his Facebook commentary.

The journalist cited historical precedents of Ghanaian leaders who lost initial elections before winning power. “Kufuor lost in 1996 before winning in 2000. President Atta Mills lost twice before winning in 2008. President Akufo-Addo lost twice before winning in 2016. President Mahama lost twice before winning again in 2024,” Awuni noted, presenting these examples as part of his argument.

Awuni suggested Bawumia could unify the divided party. “At a period of heightened acrimony and division threatening the party’s chances at returning to power, the party needs a unifying figure. And I see that in Bawumia,” he wrote, directly attributing this assessment to his post.

He criticized the emphasis on financial resources in the contest. “I’ve heard that Bawumia has enough money to pump into the party. If the primary consideration for leading the NPP were money, then Chairman Wuntumi could as well be the NPP’s flagbearer,” Awuni stated, quoting his warning against reducing the selection to wealth.

Awuni concluded by reiterating his call for both major parties to prioritize strong candidates. “It is in the interest of the NDC that the NPP elect a bad candidate. And it is in the interest of the NPP that the NDC elect a bad candidate. However, it is in the interest of our democracy and the well-being of Ghanaians that both parties put their best foot forward,” he wrote, sourcing this principle to his Facebook commentary.

Ghana’s Fourth Republic, established in 1992, has maintained a competitive two-party system between the NPP and National Democratic Congress (NDC).