A senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah Asante, says New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia must decisively establish his independence from former President Nana Akufo-Addo if he hopes to win the trust of Ghanaians and secure votes in the 2028 general elections.

Dr Asah Asante’s comments come as Dr Bawumia positions himself for the 2028 presidential race following his election as the NPP’s flagbearer, with party unity and public perception expected to play a critical role in the campaign ahead.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Monday, Dr Asah Asante argued that public perception currently links a vote for Dr Bawumia directly to the legacy and influence of the former President.

“As it stands now, people believe that a vote for Bawumia is a vote for Akufo-Addo. That perception is how things are likely to translate into votes in 2028, and he must be able to win himself out of that space,” he said.

Responding to questions about whether Dr Bawumia could realistically detach himself from the influence of his former boss, Dr Asah Asante insisted it was both possible and necessary.

“He should be able to do that,” he stated. “He must be his own man, take decisions on his own, and not appear to be dictated to from behind the scenes by the former President.”

According to the political scientist, any continued perception of a “master-servant relationship” between Dr Bawumia and the former President could alienate party supporters and the broader electorate.

“If there is any attempt to control him, he must be firm and say no, and then come out clearly with his own decisions,” he noted. “If that relationship continues, he will incur the wrath of party people and, by extension, the general public.”

Dr Asah Asante drew parallels with the relationship between late President John Evans Atta Mills and former President Jerry John Rawlings, noting that Professor Mills was eventually able to assert his independence.

He questioned whether Dr Bawumia would demonstrate similar courage, recalling claims in the past that the Vice President had been sidelined during the Akufo-Addo administration.

“I did not buy the argument that he was sidelined,” Dr Asah Asante argued. “If you have the courage and you believe you are being undermined, you resign without excuses.”

He added that perceptions of marginalisation could also reflect performance concerns rather than deliberate exclusion.