Dennis Miracles Aboagye, aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has stressed that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) strongest option for reclaiming power in the 2028 general elections lies in rallying behind Dr. Bawumia.
He argued that the party already has a proven electoral base with him, unlike aspirants entering without prior national voter appeal. Aboagye said Dr. Bawumia’s 2024 campaign, though unsuccessful, provides the NPP with a formidable springboard.
He noted that carrying forward those gains would be more strategic than risking an entirely new candidacy. “A candidate with 41.7% support already has a base – the real task is to secure the additional 9%,” he stated, emphasizing that throwing away that advantage would amount to starting afresh.
He further referenced Ghana’s electoral history to demonstrate that resilience often pays off for candidates seeking to return, insisting that such cases should serve as an important reminder and guide for the NPP.
“Who imagined that President Mahama, who lost with close to one million votes in 2020, would come back to win the presidency. His comeback is a confirmation and validation that in this country, if you engage the people consistently, they are more likely to listen to you than a first-timer”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Aide to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
According to him, President Mahama’s determination and persistence paid off and was worth it. He stressed that the NPP would do well to heed this lesson rather than gamble with untested options just because the first time didn’t result in expected victory.
“It is not just about winning – it is about keeping the party whole,” Aboagye also said, noting that internal contests for the party’s flagbearer must focus on ideas and credibility instead of insults and fabricated stories against aspirants.
He cautioned that smear campaigns weaken the NPP’s standing and make it harder to face external opponents like the New Democratic Congress (NDC) in national elections.
The question of who should lead the NPP into the 2028 elections has sparked significant debate. While Miracles Aboagye has made the case for Dr. Bawumia, other voices within the party hold a different view.
Internal Conflict
Member of Parliament (MP) for Nhyiaeso, Hon. Dr. Stephen Amoah, has argued that former Assin Central legislator Kennedy Agyapong presents the party’s best shot at victory.
Dr. Amoah acknowledged Bawumia’s competence and record but insisted that Agyapong’s grassroots appeal and connection with ordinary Ghanaians make him a more formidable contender.
The NPP will ultimately settle the matter when it holds its flagbearer primary, which has been scheduled for January 31, 2026. The contest is already being anticipated as one of the most decisive moments for the party since losing power in 2024.
For Aboagye, the NPP’s focus should not just be about choosing a leader but about maintaining unity and continuity. He underscored that discarding Dr. Bawumia’s established voter base of more than four in every ten Ghanaians would be “a costly miscalculation.”
“The one that gives us our best chance and fastest path to winning the 2028 election is Dr. Bawumia. He went into 2024, lost, but is holding a certain percentage of votes, which we can attest to.
“New aspirants have zero because they have not contested. How do we throw away 41% of votes and hazard a zero per cent? It is a difficult thing to do”
Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Aide to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
His argument ultimately rested on preserving gains – arguing that Bawumia’s performance in the 2024 elections provides the party with a solid foundation to build upon – protecting party unity, and consolidating support to bridge the small gap required for victory.
The debate, however, remains open within the NPP, and the outcome of the primaries will determine whether the party takes Aboagye’s advice or opts for a fresh face to carry its banner in 2028.
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