The camp of newly elected NPP flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has apologised to party members and competitors over comments and actions that may have caused offence during the party’s fiercely contested flagbearer race.

Speaking on Channel One TV on Sunday, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to Dr Bawumia, said the Vice President holds no grudges over attacks that came his way during the campaign and is focused on uniting the party going forward.

“Once he gets into a competition, people would come at him, not necessarily with things that they mean or things that are true,” he said.

According to Mr Aboagye, Dr Bawumia understands the nature of political contests and does not take such attacks personally.

“Some people feel that when they are in competition with you, the best way they can outrun you is to throw that at you,” he said.

He stressed that because Dr Bawumia does not take campaign attacks to heart, there is no lingering bitterness.

“Once the victim is not taking these things to heart, then there’s nothing like an issue for there to be a reconciliation,” he said.

Mr Aboagye said the focus has now shifted from contestation to leadership and unity.

“This morning, Dr Bawumia is leading the party, irrespective of what you said against him, whether negative or otherwise during the campaign, none of those things matter this morning,” he stated.

He insisted that many of the harsh criticisms levelled against Dr Bawumia during the race were tactical rather than sincere.

“We are sure, and we know, that most of the things that the other competitors may have said against him are not things that they meant,” he said.

He cited criticisms surrounding Dr Bawumia’s concession in the 2024 general elections as an example.

“One of the key things that our opponent used against us was that he conceded too early in the 2024 elections. Why did he concede before the EC declared?” he said.

Mr Aboagye noted that the same critics later acted differently during the flagbearer race.

“Yesterday, you saw all of them concede before the EC declared,” he said. For him, this confirmed that the attacks were campaign tools rather than deeply held convictions.

“It means that what they were saying at the time, it’s not something that they truly meant,” he said.

Against that backdrop, Mr Aboagye said the Bawumia camp is offering an unreserved apology.

“From our side also, we are saying that if in the course of the campaign, we may have said something, we have done something, that may have stepped on your toes, affected you anyway, we apologise,” he said.

He described the NPP as a family that must now close ranks. “We are one family. We are one blood. We are one people. We are together,” he said.

He said the task ahead is collective and urgent. “Now let’s execute a common goal,” he added.

Dr Bawumia was declared the winner of the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer contest after securing 56.48 per cent of the total votes cast, earning him the party’s ticket for the 2028 general elections.

His closest contender, former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, placed second with 46,554 votes, representing 23.76 per cent.

The apology and call for unity come as the party begins efforts to heal internal divisions following a bruising contest and refocus on the road ahead.