The character of Dr. Mahmudu Bawumia in the NPP presidential primary is proven to be an enigma. First, he was plucked from his political obscurity to political stardom because of his economic and financial genius. It was at a time the NPP thought they needed an economic giant to partner then candidate Akufo Addo, in the 2008 elections and thought Dr. Bawumia, then deputy Governor of Bank of Ghana, easily fits the bill.
It was such a desperate search that the NPP had to breach its membership code to issue Bawumia a membership card, in order to be accepted by the NPP hierarchy, to a position as high as, potential vice president of the Republic. As the country’s economy begun faltering, so is the Bawumia strength-narrative wavering and stuttering. Now the cliché has changed from an economic colossus to “Bawumia, the Digital Maestro.” His supporters are also struggling hard to characterize him with a gate in the NPP political history. The NPP is an offshoot of the United Party (UP).
The UP is an amalgamation of some political and regional groupings in the late 1950’s. They include the Northern People’s Party (the 1st NPP), the Ghana Congress, the National Liberation Movement (NLM), Trans Volta Togoland, Ga Shiefo Mokpie and others. But if it’s about the tracing of a political history, then Bawumia has no lineage to the NPP, some of his critics argue. Aside the fact that his father had a serious history in Ghana’s politics, that of his son is unknown until Akufo Addo came calling in 2008.
And so, if Bawumia should be credited with any political lineage at all, it should rather be with the CPP. This is because Bawumia’s father was a minister under the CPP government. CPP was the political party founded by Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah and won for Ghana her independence and republican status. Bawumia’s father, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia jettisoned the UP in 1964 on grounds that it had planned to use people of Northern extraction to cause chaos in the country.
Mumuni Bawumia would later pitch camp with Rawlings’ PNDC and the NDC where he served in various top positions. The Vice President does not seem to have shown enough pedigree within the NPP. It’s the contention of some party members that Bawumia’s claim to fame within the NPP family is that once upon a time, the NPP’s search party found him to be credible enough to partner Nana Addo for the NPP presidential ticket at a time that he—Bawumia, was not even a card-bearing member of the NPP.
He seemed not to have justified his inclusion, hence the new performance tag substitute— The Digital Maestro. No longer the Economic Genius? For those who consider history as a factor in the NPP presidential nomination, it’s about time Bawumia filled the void that has eluded the Northern section of the NPP. And so the popular chorus among his supporters is that it’s about time the NPP credited Bawumia with the mandate of picking up the Northern People’s Party divide in the NPP.
The divide was headed by Abayefa Karbo and Chief S.D. Dombo. Of course before his cross-carpet to the CPP, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia was also a key actor in the Northern People’s Party. They believe it’s the time for the Northern grouping in the NPP/UP to lead the ruling party. However, the 2024 NPP presidential contest in itself is likely to go down the wire as a race between the two front-runners and their credentials in the NPP tradition, which of course, traces its antecedent from the United Party (UP). With the narrative so far, the suggestion in some quarters is that Bawumia’s candidature can only thrive in an emerging new order within the NPP.
It’s not same with his leading opponent, Alan Kyerematen, who is considered a key party man and a founding member of the NPP. The Vice President is surely going to be a beneficiary of an order being established by the sitting administration. Paradoxically, core members of the current administration campaigned on the conservative orientation of the NPP, when they were canvasing for then candidate, Akufo Addo and even during the national elections. Akufo Addo benefited from such liberal outlook of the NPP in the party’s primaries in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020.
In other words, a tradition that rewards loyalty, longevity; staying put and paying continuous obeisance to the cause irrespective of the circumstance that confronts any such candidate. It’s such liberal order, which although, benefited Akufo Addo in the past, he and his cohorts are trying to alter as the NPP prepares for the crucial 2024 presidential primary. Indeed, the current political establishment has not hidden it desire to breach the status-quo, by openly supporting the Bawumia candidacy.
That means Dr. Bawumia is likely to enjoy massive incumbency support, similar to what many sitting Ghanaian presidents benefit from, on the national election scale. It’s therefore, not surprising that some other high-profile members of the administration are backing the Bawumia candidature. Definitely, his political godfather—Ken Ofori-Atta is one of them. The Bawumia candidature is not likely to be stifled of funds because it’s an adopted project of the President and majority of members of his administration.
However, as to whether these are the only determinant factors to ensure a Bawumia success, still remains a conjectural puzzle. On the other hand, Alan’s campaign machinery is being lubricated by the old guards in the NPP, not least, his political grand-master, former President J.A Kufuor. That means Alan’s fan base is likely, being driven from the Kufuor axis in the NPP. Therefore, stalwarts like Kufuor himself, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, Dr. Richard Anane, Felix Owusu Agyapong, Kwadwo Mpiani, among others, could be the possible pillars of the Alan campaign.
Not least, a statement of claim from others who feel slighted by their suspension from the NPP before the 2016 elections. These are suspended party chairman Paul Afoko and the suspended 2nd vice chairman, Sammy Crabbe. A former suspended National Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong is however, competing in the NPP presidential nomination. Another former General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow, has even gone public with his declaration as the campaign manager of Alan Kyerematen. Others who feel marginalized by the current NPP administration are all likely to join the Alan bandwagon.
The 1979 historical crack in the UP Tradition
The and character of the current happenings in the NPP is just a confirmation of how the Victor Owusu and William Ofori-Atta axis have seamlessly been operating the NPP political machinery since its formation in 1992. The UP tradition which is an offshoot of the NPP, split into two—the Popular Front Party (PFP) and the United National Convention (UNC) during Ghana’s Third Republican elections in 1979.
When it became obvious that Victor Owusu was to become the presidential candidate of the PFP, a secessionists group, led by William Ofori-Atta (Paa Willie), a member of the Big Six (6) formed the United National Convention (UNC). It’s the express belief of many that the Akufo-Addo led isle in the NPP, represents the faction with a leaning towards the Paa Willie bloc; while the Victor Owusu faction is being led by former President, J.A. Kufuor.
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