Concerns within the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) about the political rise of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are driven more by anxiety than strategy, according to former Speaker of Parliament and senior New Patriotic Party figure, Prof. Mike Oquaye.
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Speaking on JoyNews on Saturday, January 31, the veteran academic and politician described the NPP’s newly chosen presidential candidate as a standout leader whose influence has no parallel in Ghana’s constitutional history. He attributed Dr. Bawumia’s growing appeal to his emphasis on practical policies and reform-oriented governance.
Prof. Oquaye argued that Dr. Bawumia’s years as Vice President set him apart from all others who have occupied the office since the advent of the Fourth Republic. In his view, the scale of reforms and innovative ideas associated with Dr. Bawumia’s tenure positions him as the strongest contender ahead of the 2028 general elections.
According to the former Speaker, opposition to Dr. Bawumia’s candidacy from the NDC is predictable. He insisted that a leader whose record is built on measurable achievements and policy innovation naturally unsettles political rivals.
Prof. Oquaye maintained that when Vice Presidents are assessed on the basis of ideas introduced, reforms implemented, and impact on national development, Dr. Bawumia emerges as the most effective in Ghana’s recent political history.
His comments follow Dr. Bawumia’s emphatic victory in the New Patriotic Party’s presidential primary, a result that underscored strong internal confidence in his leadership.
Securing 110,643 votes, equivalent to 56.48 percent of the total ballots cast, Dr. Bawumia outperformed four other experienced contenders, a showing widely seen as unifying the party as it prepares for the next electoral cycle.
The endorsement by Prof. Oquaye reinforces a key pillar of the Bawumia campaign, which prioritises economic renewal and the expansion of digital systems as tools for national development. By highlighting policy outcomes rather than political slogans, the former Speaker challenged the NDC to defend its own record in office.
As the NPP turns its focus from internal selection to nationwide engagement, support from a foundational party elder such as Prof. Oquaye is expected to strengthen Dr. Bawumia’s standing, particularly among long-standing party supporters.
With the party’s flagbearer officially confirmed and preparations for 2028 underway, the NPP enters the next phase of its campaign led by a candidate whom Prof. Oquaye believes represents the most serious challenge the NDC is likely to face.
