Seasoned New Patriotic Party (NPP) figure Richard Nyamah has declared his unflinching support for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2028 elections, describing him as “the only aspirant who will win the NPP power in 2028.” 

In a statement reflecting on the party’s loss in the December 2024 elections, Mr Nyamah said he had spent ten months analysing data, historical voting patterns and voter behaviour before arriving at his conclusion. “My declaration of support is largely based on the academic rather than emotive analysis of the data my research came up with,” he explained.

Outlining his reasons, Mr Nyamah argued that the Fourth Republic’s electoral history shows no presidential aspirant has won power from an incumbent on a first attempt. “President Kufuor had the fewest tries of two in 1996 and 2000. Prof Evans Atta Mills contested in 2000 and 2004 before winning in 2008. Nana Addo first contested in 2008, then 2012 before winning in 2016,” he said. 

He added that President Mahama’s own trajectory – losing in 2016, again in 2020 and then making “the biggest political comeback in Ghana’s history” in 2024 – demonstrated that “the Ghanaian electorate will always take you through storms, fires and brimstone to test your preparedness for the job.”

He further noted a second voter pattern which, he argued, worked in Dr Bawumia’s favour. “Since 1992, the incumbent President always ends up handing over power to his main political opponent or rival in the last election. Rawlings had to hand over power to Kufuor in 2001. Kufuor handed over to Atta Mills in 2009. Mahama handed over to Nana Addo in 2017 and Nana Addo handed back to Mahama in 2025. Please note that Dr Bawumia was Mahama’s main opponent in the last election. Fortunately, in 2028, President Mahama cannot contest,” Mr Nyamah stated.

According to him, Dr Bawumia’s long service also gives him a unique advantage. “He has been on every ticket of the NPP since 2008 for five consecutive elections, four times as running mate and once as the main candidate. 

He is the most marketed candidate the NPP has and it won’t cost an arm and a leg to sell him,” he argued, adding that eight years in opposition and eight years in government have prepared Dr Bawumia “to correct the mistakes our government made he has taken the burden of apologising for.” Mr Nyamah also urged Bawumia supporters to be “circumspect” in their commentary towards Kennedy Agyepong, whom he described as “the NPP’s balance and a major factor in ensuring the NPP comes back to power.” 

He concluded: “It is Bawumia’s time and I declare my unflinching support for him to be our presidential candidate and to bring us to power in 2028.”