Former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, has described the newly elected flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as the most impactful Vice President in Ghana’s Fourth Republic history.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with JoyNews in relation to the NPP’s presidential primary held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, the veteran statesman argued that Dr. Bawumia is the opponent’s “worst nightmare” because of his peerless record of policy innovation.

Prof. Oquaye’s endorsement centred on Dr. Bawumia’s transformation of the Office of the Vice President from a largely ceremonial role into a hub for national digitalisation and economic reform.

He contended that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is wary of Dr Bawumia because the 'umbrella party' cannot match his intellectual and policy contributions.

“The NDC don't want him [Dr Bawumia]. I don't expect them to because he will beat them. If you put achievements, ideas introduced, and policies that Bawumia brought, he is the best of all vice presidents in the history of this country since the fourth republic,” Prof. Oquaye stated emphatically.

The former Speaker’s comments coincided with the official declaration of the primary results, where Dr. Bawumia secured a massive mandate to lead the NPP into the 2028 general elections.

Despite a vigorous challenge from former Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the former Vice President garnered 110,643 votes, representing 56.48% of the total valid votes cast across 333 polling centres nationwide.

Prof. Oquaye noted that Dr. Bawumia’s ability to "redefine" the Vice Presidency—championing initiatives like the GhanaCard, Mobile Money Interoperability, and the Digital Address System—has created a legacy that will be difficult for rivals to dismantle on the campaign trail.

By framing Dr. Bawumia as a historic figure of achievement, the NPP leadership is signalling that the party is ready to transition from internal competition to a high-stakes national contest against the NDC.

In his victory speech, Dr. Bawumia echoed these sentiments, calling for a "united front" to "break the eight" and ensure that his policies continue to drive Ghana’s development into the next decade.