Former Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam has warned that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) could face a prolonged spell in opposition if it fails to retain its 2024 presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as flagbearer in the party’s upcoming primaries.
The Member of Parliament for Karaga said in an interview on Joy News on Wednesday that history within the party suggests that candidates given a second chance after an initial defeat have gone on to win.
“We repeated Kufuor and Akufo-Addo for a second time, and they won, so why shouldn’t we repeat Bawumia for the second time?” he asked. “If we put Bawumia forth the first time and he lost, do we want to experiment with another candidate and risk losing against the opposition?”
Dr. Amin Adam cautioned that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) could exploit such experimentation. “Mahama is not going to contest again, but he will support their candidate because they have the resources,” he said. “If we are not careful and engage in experimentation, even when the NDC experiments by bringing a new candidate, and they win, we could be in opposition for 12 years. If we make that mistake, we will likely remain in opposition for 12 years, and by the end of 12 years, we will not have a party.”
While the debate over the flagbearer looms, the NPP is also preparing for a by-election in Ayawaso East following the death of NDC lawmaker Naser Toure Mahama on January 4 after a short illness. Mr. Mahama, a four-term MP, had secured the seat in the 2024 general elections with 22,139 votes, representing 70.85 percent of the total ballots cast. His NPP challenger, Zak Rahman, polled 9,110 votes, or 29.15 percent, in a constituency with nearly 50,000 registered voters.
NPP General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua confirmed that the party will contest the by-election, dismissing suggestions that it should step aside out of respect for the late MP.
“Why shouldn’t we contest?” he said. “The New Patriotic Party will contest the Ayawaso East by-election, and as I speak to you, we are doing our own candidate search to get a very good, well-accepted candidate to contest.”
Mr. Kodua extended condolences to the family of the late MP and to the NDC but expressed surprise at remarks by the Municipal Chief Executive of Ayawaso East, who reportedly urged the NPP not to field a candidate. “I was very surprised and shocked that he could make such a statement. This is not the first time we have had by-elections in this country,” he said.
Citing precedent, Mr. Kodua defended the party’s decision. “When the NPP decided not to contest Tamale Central, the NDC decided to contest Akwatia. So for whatever reason that influenced them to contest Akwatia, the same reason is also influencing us to contest the Ayawaso East by-election.”
He rejected claims that the constituency’s status as an NDC stronghold should deter the ruling party. “It’s not an issue of whether it is an NDC stronghold or not. We are going to contest, and we are going to make sure that we win the seat,” he said.
Mr. Kodua added that the NPP would unveil its candidate well ahead of the Electoral Commission’s timetable. “With issues of death, I know the Electoral Commission has about 60 days to organise the by-election. So I can assure you that before the Electoral Commission opens nominations, the NPP will have a candidate for the Ayawaso East by-election.”
