The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Election 2024, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on Thursday, officially filed his nomination to contest the party’s presidential primary.

He emphasised that the election was crucial, not only for selecting the party’s flagbearer but also for determining the party’s soul and values.

He said the choice made on January 31st would shape whether the party holds onto its core values or shifts its focus towards widening the gap between the rich and the poor.

Before he arrived, Dr Bawumia’s supporters, wearing T-shirts with his picture embossed on them, thronged the NPP headquarters at Asylum Down, in Accra, singing and dancing.

Some carried placards with inscriptions “Win with Bawumia”, “Bawumia: Prepared, Formidable and Winnable Candidate” and “It’s Possible”.

The total cost for nomination and filing for aspiring candidates is GH¢600,000, broken down as follows:

Nomination Fee: GH¢100,000 (non-refundable) and Filing Fee of GH¢500,000.

The presidential primary, at which the flagbearer of the opposition NPP would be elected for Ghana’s December 2028 general election, is scheduled for January 31, 2026.

Nominations opened on July 29, 2025, and will be closing today, Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Dr Bawumia assured: “I implore you to join me on this journey to rebuild our party and reposition this great tradition to deliver for Ghanaians from 2028. I am committed to doing this with you, the grassroots of the party.

“A future Bawumia government would recognise and reward the sacrifices of our grassroots. Many have lost their jobs under the current government, and we will restore their appointments.”.

The flagbearer aspirant said his vision was to introduce measures to reduce the cost of living for the average Ghanaian and support the vulnerable.

“My vision is to adopt a constituency-based development and budgeting framework in which local people benefit the most and the well-being of the individual is enhanced,” Dr Bawumia added.

He urged the aspiring candidates to focus on ideas and issues that would unite the Party instead of divisions and conflicts.

Dr Bauwumia said, “For the various candidates contesting for flagbearership, I ask, won’t Ghana and the NPP be better off, instead of focusing your guns on Bawumia, you focus on holding the Government accountable to show that you can lead the NPP in holding the NDC accountable.

“Won’t Ghana and the NPP be better off if instead of focusing on attacking each other, you focus on selling a vision for the Party and the Country?

“Our true opponent is not within. Our true opponent is out there. We need unity to win. I promise you that just as you have known me to be, I would not do anything to bring division or conflict within the party. If there would be anyone to create problems in the NPP, it wouldn’t be Dr. Bawumia.”