Drop NAPO For These Two Women And Lose Everything — Kelvin Taylor Warns Bawumia

Kelvin Taylor has dropped another bombshell.

The US-based journalist says Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is thinking about dropping NAPO as his running mate.

And the two names he says Bawumia is considering? Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson and Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.

According to Kelvin Taylor, Bawumia is contemplating replacing Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, with one of the two women ahead of the 2028 elections.

His warning was blunt: if Bawumia does it, his choice will be catastrophic.

This is not the first time the running mate matter has caused confusion in the NPP.

NAPO was Bawumia’s running mate in the 2024 election. Since Bawumia won the party’s presidential primary on January 31, 2026, everyone has been asking the same question: Will he keep NAPO, or will he pick someone new?

So far, Bawumia and his team have not announced anything. No official statement. No confirmation. Nothing.

One camp says Bawumia will keep NAPO. The Friends of NAPO have already warned the party not to try to replace him. They say dropping NAPO will divide the party and anger the Ashanti base that stood behind him.

Another camp says Bawumia wants a fresh face. Names like Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye have also been mentioned. Now Kelvin Taylor has added two more names to the list.

Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson is the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST. Her term is set to end soon, which is why many people are watching her next move closely.

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is the former Foreign Affairs Minister and now the Commonwealth Secretary-General. She is well known internationally, but she has not shown any interest in being a running mate.

Kelvin Taylor says picking either of them over NAPO would be a disaster for Bawumia. In his view, it would break the trust of the people who fought for NAPO, confuse the party base, and hand the opposition an easy win.

Checks show there is no official or unofficial communication from the NPP about a final nominee. Bawumia has not spoken. NAPO has not spoken. Rita Dickson has not spoken. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has not spoken.

But in Ghana politics, rumours move faster than truth.

One thing is clear: the running mate decision is becoming Bawumia’s biggest headache. Keep NAPO, and some people will say he is afraid to change. Drop NAPO, and others will say he has betrayed his own team.

Kelvin Taylor has made his position clear. For him, dropping NAPO for Rita Dickson or Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey will not be a smart move.

Trusted-Breaking feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com