Former Vice President and 2024 NPP flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, says history will vindicate President Nana Akufo-Addo despite the challenges his administration faced in its final years.

Speaking during a Thank You Tour event in London hosted by the Young Executive Forum (YEF), he mounted a defence of the Akufo-Addo government, insisting that time will soften current criticisms and reveal the administration’s impact.

“You remember that when Kufuor left office, he wasn’t a very popular president at the time he was leaving office, don’t you remember?” he said.

“But today, he is one of the most popular presidents who has come in the history of our country. He’s very popular today because people have had a chance to reflect on his accomplishments, and he did some marvellous work.”

Dr Bawumia argued that the same retrospective appreciation will be extended to Akufo-Addo, especially when contrasted with the performance of the current Mahama administration.

“That is the same way I believe that whilst people sit down and reflect over the next four years, and especially contrast with what NDC is doing, people will appreciate the work that Nana Akufo-Addo’s government also did for Ghana. People will appreciate it. And I believe that posterity will be kind to Nana Akufo-Addo and the government of the NPP.”

In a candid moment during the Q&A session, the former Vice President also acknowledged the shortcomings of the NPP government.

“There’s no doubt, as the chairman said, that we didn’t get everything right,” he admitted.

“We got quite a few things wrong, and I think that on my own behalf, on behalf of the party and the government, I apologise to all of you for us not getting the things right that we should have gotten.”

However, Dr Bawumia said he believes the NPP has learned its lessons and can return stronger.

“If, by the grace of God, we have another opportunity, I believe that we will get many things right because we’ve learned the lessons of where we are going,” he said.

“I am very, very optimistic about 2028. I believe that the 2028 NPP is going to come back into government. I believe so. I believe so.”

He also pointed to what he sees as early signs of disillusionment under the new NDC government.

“They said that when they come, they will bring down the cost of kenkey and the cost of living. I don’t know. Have you noticed the reduction in prices in Ghana? No. Prices are rather going up,” he said to laughter from the audience.

The former Vice President listed a number of unfulfilled promises, from cocoa price hikes to ending illegal mining, arguing that the NDC was being exposed just five months into its term.

“It’s not easy to do propaganda when you are in government. It’s very easy to do propaganda in opposition,” he said.

“They told so many lies in opposition… now they are not able to fulfil them.”

Dr Bawumia dismissed the NDC’s flagship 24-hour economy policy as an illusion.

“How can you have a 24-hour economy with dumsor at the same time? I mean, you can’t,” he jabbed.

“Dumsor has taken over, and we warned Ghanaians that dumsor and NDC work together… and that was going to happen. Ghanaians didn’t listen, but we basically have been proven right.”

Dr. Bawumia also suggested that the NPP will benefit from the NDC’s need to present a new presidential candidate in the 2028 election.

“There’s a sense that in 2028, NDC is going to bring a new candidate,” he said.

“They’ve run out of choices now with Mahama. Mahama has been their perennial candidate over the last few elections. Now they will have to bring a new candidate. I believe we will have an advantage, all things being equal, over that new candidate.”

While he did not categorically declare that he will run for president again in 2028, his comments suggested that he is positioning himself for a political comeback.

“I believe that we are in a very good position to win this election, and we should be very, very enthusiastic,” he said. “I want to count on all of your support.”