A keen observer of Ghana’s electoral landscape, Prof. Patrick Osei-Kufuor has said that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s re-election as flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was a predictable outcome, reflecting the entrenched will of the party’s delegate base.
He underscored that his victory underscores the party’s decision at both the collective and individual level to endorse him as leader.
During a telephone conversation on GBC Radio Central’s Morning Show on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, Prof. Osei-Kufuor noted that when a party makes a decision based on the aforementioned dynamics, it becomes extremely challenging to anticipate any surprises during the polls, especially when the same individuals are tasked with making the same decision.
“I knew Bawumia would emerge winner, the election observer stressed, adding that “the foundational structure of the party has not changed significantly to warrant any electoral shift at the top”. “The same persons voted in the previous elections, with some few additions”, he explained.
Responding to the potential impact of a bottom-up approach on the NPP elections, the elections observer noted that while there would have been some changes, Dr Bawumia would still have emerged victorious as the party’s preferred candidate.
Regarding Dr. Bryan Acheampong’s performance during the elections, Prof. Osei-Kufuor commended him for his efforts, recommending that the party consider him for future campaign purposes. “He resonates with the youth and had a significant impact on the elections,” he observed. Additionally, he emphasized that Bryan is a candidate for the future, except that the party’s sentiment is “This is Bawumia’s time”.
Seeking his perspective on Jojo Oppong Nkrumah’s assertions regarding how to regain the trust of Ghanaians going forward, he concurred with him, advising the party to develop effective post-election issue management strategies by utilizing dialogue to bring all contestants on board, particularly Kennedy Ohene Agyapong. “They should leverage their Council Elders to bring Ken on board,” he noted, emphasizing its significance in presenting a united front to the Ghanaian electorate.
Regarding trust issues, he stated that most Ghanaians are disenchanted with the NPP’s performance in government. It is essential for them to establish connections to regain the trust of the people. Nevertheless, Prof. Osei-Kufuor revealed that, according to EC statistics, Bawumia’s attainment of 41% of the valid votes cast in the 2024 elections is encouraging.
“It signifies trust for the candidate, but the floating voters had some grievances arising from Nana Akufo-Addo’s governance, which ultimately impacted Bawumia’s chances, he stated.
In summary, he proposed that it was Dr. Bawumia’s responsibility to demonstrate to the electorate how certain policies implemented during his tenure in government are currently benefiting Ghanaians. By achieving this and making Ghanaians recognize that he was not in charge as Vice President but would perform better when given the opportunity, this can enhance his presidential prospects.
Source By DC Kwame Kwakye
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