NPP Stalwart Urges Party Unity Behind Bawumia for 2028, Invokes Kufuor Legacy

A prominent member of Ghana’s governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for early consolidation of support behind Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s 2028 flagbearer, drawing parallels to the unified backing that propelled former President John Kufuor to victory in 2000.

Kwesi Botchway Jnr., a close associate of the Vice President, made the case during a televised interview, emphasizing historical precedent amid emerging factional debates within the party. “The NPP demonstrated discipline in 1996 and 1998 by rallying behind Kufuor after internal contests,” he told GHOne TV. “That same unity of purpose should guide us now.”

The remarks come as the party grapples with post-election reflections following December’s tightly contested polls. While the NPP retained power, its parliamentary majority narrowed significantly—a development some members attribute to internal divisions during the candidate selection process.

Botchway dismissed emerging skepticism about Bawumia’s policy influence, asserting the Vice President’s fingerprints are evident across key government initiatives. “Rather than disputing credit, we should acknowledge how digitalization, fiscal stabilization, and the gold-for-oil program bear his strategic imprint,” he said, referencing economic measures that have become central to the administration’s legacy.

The early endorsement signals what analysts predict will be a carefully orchestrated succession plan. Unlike the crowded 2023 primaries that saw Bawumia defeat rivals including Alan Kyerematen and Kennedy Agyapong, the 2028 race appears poised for smoother consolidation—at least among the Vice President’s inner circle.

However, potential challengers may emerge from regional power bases, particularly if economic headwinds persist. Botchway’s intervention suggests a preemptive strategy to frame Bawumia as the natural standard-bearer, much as Kufuor transitioned from 1996 runner-up to undisputed 2000 frontrunner through similar early consensus-building.

The historical analogy carries weight: Kufuor’s eventual victory ended the NPP’s long opposition stint and launched Ghana’s Fourth Republic’s most stable two-term presidency. Whether Bawumia can replicate that trajectory may depend on how the party balances internal democracy with strategic unity in the coming years.