Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has described the NDC's 2012 election victory as an “aberration,” arguing that the party won on a wave of national grief following the death of President John Atta Mills.

Speaking in London during his Thank You Tour, the 2024 NPP flagbearer told members of the Young Executive Forum (YEF) that the election was marked by a climate of mourning that made the political contest difficult.

“John Mahama’s one was an aberration,” he said.

“Because in 2012, we were going for an election against Mills, so all our ammunition and our battle plans were against him. And so we did everything we could. Unfortunately, may his soul rest in peace, he passed away. And then it was Mahama who was sworn in and then became the candidate.”

He added, “Now for the rest of the campaign, NDC was playing funeral songs. I’m sure many of you saw it. They had angels on the TV. They were playing mourning songs. How could you even attack them? You would be seen as insensitive. They mourned all the way to victory, and we were just sitting there.”

Despite disputing the 2012 results in court, Dr Bawumia conceded that Mahama’s win at the time stood as a rare break in Ghana’s typical political pattern.

“He won at his first attempt, but Ghanaians gave him the boot in 2016,” he said.

Dr Bawumia used the history lesson to argue that Ghanaian voters typically reject first-time presidential candidates.

“Our political history suggests that it is usually very difficult for a first-time presidential candidate to win an election in Ghana. I don’t know why that is, but Ghanaians want you to come more than once,” he explained.

He cited examples across both major parties: “John Agyekum Kufuor in ’96 had to come back in 2000. President Mills contested in 2000, 2004, then he won in 2008. Nana Akufo-Addo also went three times before he won.”

Reflecting on the NPP’s 2024 defeat, Dr Bawumia admitted his side made mistakes.

“There’s no doubt, as the chairman said, that we didn’t get everything right. NPP did a lot of work, there’s no doubt about it, but we did not get everything right. We got quite a few things wrong.”

He offered a rare apology to the party faithful abroad: “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. We didn’t get everything right.”

But the former Vice President, who many are tipping to lead the biggest opposition party, struck an optimistic tone about the party’s prospects, expressing confidence in a 2028 comeback.

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

Dr Bawumia said the NPP would benefit from experience and the lessons of defeat.

“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.”

Dr Bawumia believes the NDC will face a more difficult race in 2028.

“There’s a sense that in 2028, NDC is going to bring a new candidate. For the first time, a new candidate isn’t it? They’ve run out of choices now of 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.”

He said that, all things being equal, the NPP stands on firmer ground heading into the next electoral cycle.

“I believe we will have a very big advantage.”