By: Jude Tackie
The Electoral Commission (EC) has formally declared Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidate for the upcoming 2024 General Election.
In a highly anticipated announcement, the EC confirmed that Dr. Bawumia secured a decisive victory in the NPP primaries, leading with an impressive 63.24% of the total vote, positioning him as the party’s flagbearer for the 2024 election.
Dr. Bawumia faced stiff competition from a field of three other candidates, including the outspoken Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, former Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and former Mampong MP, Francis Addai-Nimoh.
Certified results disclosed by Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, Siriboe Quaicoe, illustrated Dr. Bawumia’s commanding lead, with 118,210 votes representing 61.47%, while his closest rival, Mr. Agyapong, garnered 71,996 votes, accounting for 37.41%.
Dr. Afriyie Akoto placed a distant third with 1,459 votes, representing 0.76%, while Addai-Nimoh secured 731 votes, amounting to 0.41%.
This historic moment marks the first time a non-Akan candidate will lead the NPP into a general election. Dr. Bawumia, who has been the running mate to President Akufo-Addo since 2008, is set to play a pivotal role in the NPP’s bid to ‘break the 8’ and retain power in the 2024 general election.
The 2024 election is expected to be a closely contested battle, with both Dr. Bawumia and former President John Mahama representing strong candidates, each with their unique strengths and weaknesses.
The ultimate outcome will depend on various factors, including the state of the economy, the effectiveness of the candidates’ campaigns, and voter turnout.