Ghana Election 2024: Vice President Bawumia Leads NPP’s First Round Primaries by over 68%

Ghana’s Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on Saturday August 26, 2023, beat nine other contestants in the governing New Patriotic Party’s first round primaries dubbed ‘Super Delegates Congress’ by obtaining 629, representing 68.15% of the total votes cast.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, August 27, Dr. Bawumia thanked the super delegates for the confidence they showed in him to lead the party in the 2024 elections, and assured he would continue to work hard for victory in the next contest. 

“This is one step of the process, and the overwhelming support I have received throughout the country, inspires me to continue to even work harder, for a more resounding victory in the next step in November, to embark on this journey of possibilities with you”, he said.

A Member of Parliament and businessman, Kennedy Agyapong, came second with132 votes, representing 14.30%, while a former trade and industry minister, Alan Kyerematen, who was the closest contender against current President Nana Akufo Addo in the party’s 2007 primaries, came third with a raw score of 95, representing 10.29%.

As per the ruling party’s rules, the super delegates congress is being held to settle on five presidential aspirants who then contest the main primaries, slated for November this year, where the winner becomes the flag bearer.

Per Ghana’s Constitution, a president has a limited four-year two-term of office. In view of that current President Akufo Addo will not run in next year’s presidential election, hence the ruling party is seeking to elect a new flag bearer to lead them in the 2024 election.  

However, there has been a general perception within the Ghanaian political discourse that delegates of the ruling NPP which has its strong base in the south, specifically among the Akan-speaking regions, will always choose an Akan tribe for the flag bearer position. As a non-Akan, Vice President, Bawumia’s performance in last Saturday’s internal election of the party therefore brings a heuristic value in the Ghanaian political landscape.

It is also worth noting that Dr Bawumia’s influence in the ruling party as vice president has incrementally boosted its support base in the Northern and North-East regions (where he comes from), with record time high number of parliamentary seats won on the tickets of the ruling party in the 2020 general elections.  

Should Vice President Bawumia secure the final nod in November later this year to lead the governing party in the 2024 presidential election, he would be facing the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s candidate, Former President John Dramani Mahama, who also comes from northern Ghana.