A Senior political science lecturer at the University of Ghana says Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s immediate challenge following his victory in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primaries is not the ruling party, but his own.

This comes after Dr. Bawumia secured a reduced margin of victory on Saturday, failing to surpass the 61% he garnered in the 2023 contest, a result experts interpret as a sign of internal discontent.

Dr. Kwame Asah Asante framed the win as a mandate that comes with an urgent unifying mission. Speaking on Newsnite on Joy FM, Dr. Asante stated that the vote tally itself was a clear signal.

“So obviously it's a manifestation of something that went wrong,” Dr. Asante said.

“Because if he commands such, you know, good in the party, his votes will show up than what we saw… So it tells you that something went wrong. Either it's in protest, or there are people who believe that they don't want to give their vote to him.”

While acknowledging the victory, Dr. Asante stressed that the work of reconciliation must begin at once.

“But the important thing is that, since he has won, that one, you put it behind you, and you move on... So now, we must see him working, working to make sure that all the people, all those who have one issue or another… he's able to put them together and then smoke the peace pipe.”

• Read also: Bawumia urges early collaboration to reclaim lost NPP seats

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has already emphasised the need for party members to begin working together immediately to address issues within constituencies.

Dr Asah Asante agrees that his ability to mend fences will be the first true test of his 2028 campaign leadership.

“Beyond that, he's able to also prepare himself for the numerous things that we have said related to where the swing is. That is the economy, and all that,” Dr. Asante added, pointing to the next hurdle after unity, translating a reconciled party into a formidable electoral machine focused on the national issues that will decide the presidency.