Former Vice President and 2024 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged the party to choose a leader who will bring unity rather than division as it prepares for the 2028 elections.

Speaking at the NPP New York 33rd Anniversary celebration on Sunday, August 24, Dr Bawumia stressed that the party’s future success depends on a leadership style that consolidates its base and appeals to the wider Ghanaian electorate.

According to him, the NPP cannot afford to be consumed by tribal or religious rhetoric that alienates sections of society.

“We need a leader whose style unites, not divides,” he declared, pointing out that a leader must demonstrate vision, humility, incorruptibility, steadiness under pressure, and a formidable track record. These, he argued, were the qualities that matter most to the Ghanaian voter.

Dr Bawumia warned that negative campaigning within the NPP risks weakening the party and giving its opponents, particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC), unnecessary ammunition.

He emphasised that the NPP must focus on issues such as the economy, tax reforms, agriculture, industry, infrastructure and digitalisation—the very themes laid out in its 2024 manifesto.

He reminded members that the party’s poor performance in the last general election was not due to ethnicity or religion, as some have falsely claimed, but rather because of widespread voter apathy in its southern strongholds.

He cited detailed data showing that the NPP lost over 2 million votes between 2020 and 2024, mostly in regions such as Greater Accra, Ashanti and Eastern.

Calling for renewed discipline and focus, Dr Bawumia said the NPP must return to its founding principles of inclusivity and unity in diversity.

“If we are fractured and at each other’s throats, none of us can cross over to lead this party to fulfil its purpose. Tribalism and religious bigotry have no place in the NPP,” he said, urging party faithful to rally together for victory in 2028.