Spokesperson for Dr. Bryan Acheampong’s 2026 campaign, Pius Enam Hadzide, has dismissed suggestions that former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is already a marketable candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Hadzide described the argument as “a very light one,” insisting that being a familiar face does not automatically guarantee electoral victory.

“If that were the case, Dr. Bawumia would have won the previous election,” he said.

“He was a running mate long before becoming the flagbearer, and after years of visibility, he still didn’t win. What matters is what the voter wants, not how long someone has been known.”

The former Deputy Information Minister argued that political parties should not repeat candidates simply for the sake of it, but rather base their choices on performance and hard work.

“There are people who aspired for the presidency once and won. Repeating a candidate should depend on merit, not convenience,” he added.