The Volta Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed conviction that his party with the support of Ghanaians would produce the first Muslim President since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1992. 

According to Makafui Woanyah, fielding Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the NPP Presidential Candidate is an affirmation of the governing party’s commitment to inclusivity and ensuring social equity, as stipulated by the NPP Constitution. 

He further added that picking a candidate whose wife, Samira Bawumia is of Fulani descent - a marginalized group in Ghana - emphasizes the NPP’s zeal to give equal opportunity to all citizens, irrespective of tribal origin, to serve in their party and government. 

Mr Woanyah was speaking at the 12th Annual Conference of Tabitaal Pulaaku in Ho, an annual gathering of Fulanis residing in Ghana.

“What we want to say here is that we are clear in our minds that after 7th December, Dr Alhaji Mahumudu Bawumia will be sworn in as President and Her Excellency Samira Bawumia will be the First Lady of Ghana”, he stressed. 

He said that, unlike the NPP, their main opponent, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) chose to engage in ethnic, cultural, and religious sentiment deploying it as campaign machinery. 

“[NDC General Secretary] Fifi Kwetey said that no Muslim or Fulani can become the President of Ghana, or talk less a First Lady”, he recounted. 

He recounted the NDC denying qualified Fulanis their right to register as Voters and register for the National Health Insurance Scheme and have free access to primary healthcare.

“I want to tell the NDC that they should check their records, they denied Fulanis Health Insurance but we are providing Health Insurance for all residing in Ghana, without discrimination.”

“We are all witnesses to the killing of 200 Fulanis under their government. We came to solve that problem. So, they should take note, the tribal bigots as they are, we don’t have that in our constitution.”, he noted. 

He, therefore, implored Fulanis in Ghana to reject the NDC for the treatment meted out against their tribesmen and elect a more tolerant and inclusive leader, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the next President of Ghana.

Mr. Woanyah added that electing Dr Bawumia who is their in-law gives them an advantage in the next government, adding that they would be closer to the seat of government than ever. 

“We are telling all gathered here that on the ballot, you don’t have to look any further at all, just look at No. 1. I want to tell you that the Fulanis have all the place in the Jubilee House. Your mother, your sister, your daughter on the 7th of January [2025] will become the First Lady of Ghana”, he said