Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, says he is taking a more grounded approach to building his support base within the New Patriotic Party as he declares his intention to contest the party’s flagbearship race.

The former Minister for Education acknowledged the visible public support for his contenders but says he is quietly building his base.

“The job dey ground,” he told JoyNews in an exclusive interview. “You really have to go to the grounds and talk to people and get them excited about the prospect of your potential candidacy. I am happy there are MPs who have come to me ‘Nicodemusly’ and that is the name of the game. I don’t have to come out and do a public display of those who are for me or those who are against me. Once I can line them up, there will be a surprise in this country.”

Dr. Adutwum officially declared his intention to contest the NPP flagbearer race for election 2028 in a Facebook announcement on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

While widely recognized for his work in the education sector, he also addressed concerns about his economic credentials, pointing to his background in Development Economics.

He argued that his long-term vision connects education directly with national economic transformation.

“I understand the economy through the prism of how strong economies are built. I am a student of Development Economics. I understand how Singapore and China became. With a strong education foundation, they built industry and industry co-existed with a robust education system and the rest is history. The nexus between education, industrialization and economic development is where I find myself and it’s a very good place to be,” he explained.

The MP said his candidacy is rooted in national interest and believes his track record in transforming Ghana’s education system is a strong foundation to build on.

“It’s not about me but about the future of this nation. I am going to make a strong case with the delegates, that if they put me at the top at the delegate level, Ghanaians will welcome me with open arms,” he added.

Dr. Adutwum believes the party’s ultimate choice should be based on vision and track record, not just popularity. He says his work in transforming education is only a glimpse of what he can offer.

“Anyone of us who wins will be a good candidate for the New Patriotic Party, but I know Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, so far as I’m concerned, I’ve shown innovation through education, and I’m going to get an opportunity to show innovation through economic development and building a robust middle class,” he said.