Former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has reminded individuals within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who promote divisive sentiments for their personal interests that the party and its founding tradition have never used tribal or religious considerations in choosing leaders.

Speaking in Wa during his ongoing campaign tour of the Upper West Region, Dr. Bawumia emphasised that the NPP has always prioritised competence, loyalty, and electability when selecting its leadership.

He cited historical examples to reinforce his point.

“When you look at our party, we have never voted on tribal lines. We always vote on the basis of competence, capacity, and who can win power for us,” Dr. Bawumia said, explaining how the North has historically supported leaders from other parts of the country and how he, too, enjoys support nationwide.

“That is how it started with our forefathers—S.D. Dombo, Abayifa Karbo and others—when the leadership was ceded to Busia. If it was on tribal lines, the Northern People’s Party would have kept the leadership within the United Party,” he said.

“The North also supported Kufuor and did not support Malik in 1998. The North supported Akufo-Addo and did not support Aliu Mahama in 2007. That is how it is in our party.”

Dr. Bawumia added that those accusing northerners of tribalism because they support his candidacy do not appreciate the party’s history and fail to recognise that his support base extends far beyond the northern regions.

“Simply because the North is supporting me doesn’t mean it is being tribalistic. There are 15 other regions that are supporting Dr. Bawumia, so it is not about tribalism.”

“This party doesn’t vote on tribalism. We vote on competence and on who can help us win power.”

“And so all those people in our party making tribal and bigoted statements should desist, because their comments are not harming Dr. Bawumia—they are harming the image of the party.”