Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has urged party members to put behind them personal grudges, internal suspicions and factional divisions that emerged during the flagbearer contest.
He said it was time for members to move the Party forward by reconciling and forgiving one another for some of the unpalatable remarks made in the lead-up to the presidential primary.
“Let us rebuild trust among ourselves. Let us return to the values that built this party; service, competence, respect for institutions and belief in the Ghanaian people.This is the beginning of our journey to win back the trust and love of the Ghanaian people,” he said.
Dr Bawumia was speaking at the NPP Muslim thanksgiving service held on Friday at the Kanda National Mosque in Accra.
The ceremony was led by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, and attended by key members of the Party.
The NPP Flagbearer described the just-ended internal contest as a gruelling election cycle that had the potential to inflict wounds and strain relationships.
“Elections can leave scars that may not show on the surface but sometimes cut deeply. I know this. Throughout this campaign, I listened to my own party members insult me,” he said.
“I listened to them tell lies about me and my family. I listened to them say hurtful and unprintable things about me – all in the quest to bring me down and achieve their ambitions or the ambitions of those they supported.”
Dr Bawumia said based on his religious convictions, he chose not to respond to the insults and allegations.
“It was a storm of lies and vilification. But I smiled through the storm because I knew Allah knows the truth and will not forsake me,” he said.
The former Vice President observed that although efforts to forge unity among the rank and file of the Party had been satisfactory, the healing process was not yet complete.
“What is left of healing and uniting will come by acknowledging where we each went too far, telling ourselves the truth and still choosing to work together,” he noted.
“Healing will not come from silence. It will not come from speaking up alone. It will come from speaking up on what binds us together and working towards it.”
Dr Bawumia was declared the winner of the NPP presidential primary held on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
He secured 56.48 per cent of the valid votes cast to become the Party’s flagbearer for the 2028 general election.
His other competitors were Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum and Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.
