So characteristic of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a number of names have come up as possible contenders for the party's flagbearer for the 2028 elections.

Indeed, the race for the NPP flagbearer began the very moment former Vice President and 2024 flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, graciously conceded defeat within 12 hours of the 2024 election.

Dr Bawumia's unprecedented early concession earned him, and the nation's democracy, deserved respect, but it also marked the beginning of an unavoidable question: who leads the NPP into the 2028 elections?

The answer to this question is an open secret and ought not to be asked ordinarily, but in a democratic situation—particularly in the NPP, where internal contests have been historically fierce—the question lingers.

Former Vice President Dr Bawumia gave the strongest hint that he would contest again, and through his subsequent engagements, most notably the recent thank-you tour, he has emphatically confirmed he would run.

Dr Bawumia's declaration of intent has surely also been inspired by the overwhelming support and encouragement he continues to receive from various stakeholders of the party.

Former contender Kennedy Agyapong has also declared that he will contest for the flagbearership again, and so has former Education Minister, Yaw Osei Adutwum, who announced his intention in a Facebook post and later deleted it.

Former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko will most likely join others like former General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, whose recent comments on radio indicate he may run again.

With all these names, the big questions on the minds of many Ghanaians—particularly NPP members who will select a flagbearer—are: what does each presidential aspirant bring on board? What is their track record in public service and the impact they have made? Does each of them possess the requisite integrity, respect, and public service record to win the support of Ghanaians?

Thankfully, almost all of them have been in public service before, and their public service records are easily verifiable to ascertain their impact.

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Dr Bawumia in pole position

In terms of scrutinising their public service records and making comparative analyses, I believe it is not an exercise that should be reinvented. It has already been done, and Dr Bawumia stands in pole position.

The NPP's 2024 flagbearership race was largely decided on integrity, hard work, and commitment to both party and government, public service impact, originality of ideas, among others. Dr Bawumia emerged the best when party members considered all these factors in 2024, and I believe strongly that he is still ahead of the rest in ticking those boxes.

As undoubtedly the most impactful Vice President in Ghana's history, Dr Bawumia, any day, presents to the NPP the best option to lead the party back to government, no matter how long it takes.

It makes both common, historical, and political sense for the NPP to continue to present Dr Bawumia—just as the party did with President Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo, and just as the NDC did with Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and John Mahama.

Even though Prof. Mills was not as impactful a Vice President as Bawumia was, the NDC nonetheless had faith in him and presented him three times until he was elected President. The reason the NDC did that was simple: Mills was the most experienced NDC member in terms of public service at the highest level, having been Vice to President Rawlings for four years.

For Bawumia to have been a running mate twice, Vice President for eight years, and a presidential candidate once, he is undoubtedly the most experienced and most marketed NPP member to continue to lead the party.

And in terms of his track record in public service, a man who initiated and spearheaded over 20 impactful public service initiatives as Vice President surely deserves to be supported by his party until he becomes President—to do more for mother Ghana.

All the names being presented as contenders have had opportunities in public service, but their records and impacts cannot compare with the exemplary vision Dr Bawumia demonstrates, which continues to earn admiration in the NPP and even beyond.

It is interesting that just four months into the administration of the NDC, a number of Bawumia’s visions, implemented by the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government, have become the focus of Ghanaians, as they are still being implemented by the new government.

Dr Bawumia’s impact as Vice President under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo is unmatched, and it is the reason he is widely appreciated by the rank and file of the NPP.

A man who has championed the implementation of impactful policies, such as:

1. Bank of Ghana Gold Purchase Programme
2. Issuance of the Ghana Card
3. Issuance of a Ghana Card number to newborn babies
4. Zipline Medical Drone Delivery – largest in the world
5. National Digital Address System
6. National E-Pharmacy Platform
7. Gold for Oil
8. Paperless Port System
9. Digitisation of the renewal of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) membership
10. Universal QR code for easy payments – first in Africa
11. E-Gates and elimination of landing/departure forms at Kotoka Airport
12. Mobile Money Interoperability – number one in Africa
13. Ghana is the only country in Africa to have 100% access to financial inclusion
14. Increased the proportion of Ghanaians with Tax Identification Numbers from 4% to 85%
15. Zongo Development Fund
16. Motor Insurance Database
17. Ghana.Gov Platform
18. Citizens App Data Interoperability System – the only one in Africa
19. Individualised Credit Scoring – MyCreditScore
20. Networking of medical records in all teaching, regional, and district hospitals
21. Agenda 111 hospitals
22. Electric buses for public transport
23. Tap and Go payment system for public transport

A number of these policies will surely need the brain behind them to be successfully implemented, and Dr Bawumia, for what he has demonstrated, deserves a chance to lead a future NPP government.

Surely, there is no presidential aspirant in the NPP who can match Dr Bawumia’s record, which the party's members—who vote—appreciate.

It is not about promises; it is about what you have done before in public service.