Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo seated at a public function
Former Vice President and 2024 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has acknowledged a decline in the popularity of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo but expressed confidence that history will judge his legacy favourably.
Speaking to party members in the Eastern Region during the NPP’s ongoing nationwide Thank You Tour, Dr Bawumia highlighted Akufo-Addo’s contributions to Ghana, suggesting that their significance would be better appreciated with time.
“Today, when you look at it, my own boss Nana is not as popular as before, is that not so? But I have strong conviction that posterity will be very kind to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Because people with time will appreciate the work he came to do for Ghana, today we do not see it,” Dr Bawumia told party faithful in Koforidua over the weekend of May 24–25, 2025.
The Thank You Tour, which resumed in the Eastern Region, is part of the NPP’s efforts to engage with its base following the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dr Bawumia, who led the NPP’s campaign, used the platform to thank supporters for their efforts and to rally them for unity to strengthen the party for future contests. He noted the enthusiasm displayed by party members in the Eastern Region, as well as in the 13 other regions visited so far, as evidence of their resolve to restore the NPP to power.
Dr Bawumia’s comments come amid ongoing reflections on Akufo-Addo’s two-term presidency (2017–2025), which saw initiatives like the Free Senior High School programme and the Planting for Food and Jobs policy but faced criticism over economic challenges, including high inflation and cedi depreciation.
The NPP’s loss in the 2024 elections, with John Mahama securing 56.55% of the presidential vote against Dr Bawumia’s 41.31%, has been attributed by some analysts to public dissatisfaction with the Akufo-Addo administration’s economic performance.
In his address, Dr Bawumia urged party members to remain united and committed, stating, “Thank you all for your efforts in 2024, and for your continuous commitment to the NPP. Let us stay united and make our great party stronger.”
The tour, which has covered regions like Ashanti, Greater Accra, and Volta, aims to revitalise the party’s grassroots and address internal concerns following the electoral defeat.
“My boss, former President Akufo-Addo, is not as popular as he once was, but I believe posterity will be very kind to him.” – Former vice president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia pic.twitter.com/wymHVMjhIr
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) May 25, 2025