Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, a Senior Advisor to the Bawumia Campaign, has projected a decisive victory for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership contest, insisting that the January 31 primary will serve as a mandate for Bawumia’s leadership.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Karbo dismissed the internal challenges posed by contenders such as Kennedy Agyapong and Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, centering his endorsement of the former Vice President on a profile of intellectual rigor and practical innovation.
“For me, it is more of his competence, the fact that he’s a deep thinker and somebody who thinks outside the box. Bawumia will do very well, he will win this election, and we will have the opportunity of time to really plan the rest of the activities”
Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, Senior Advisor to the Bawumia Campaign
Despite sharing regional and personal bonds with the aspirant, Karbo maintained that his support is a calculated recognition of superior leadership qualities rather than familial sentiment. He argued that the political climate in 2026 demands a leader who can navigate complex economic realities with a high degree of technical competence.
The campaign advisor took a firm stance against what he described as a deliberate attempt to inject religious bias into the political discourse.
Mr. Karbo argued that those emphasizing Dr. Bawumia’s faith are specifically aiming to “muddy the waters” and distract the public from substantive policy discussions that matter to the average Ghanaian voter. He pointed to the history of the party’s internal elections as definitive proof that religious affiliation does not dictate delegate choices.
In his view, the fact that Dr. Bawumia secured a competitive democratic victory within the party against nine other aspirants in the past – the majority of whom were Christians – illustrates that the NPP base prioritizes results and leadership capacity over religion. “Religion is an issue that we must not highlight,” Mr. Karbo stated.
2024 Post-Mortem and President Mahama
Addressing the NPP’s loss in the 2024 general elections, which saw the return of current President John Dramani Mahama to power, Mr. Karbo rejected the narrative that Bawumia was a flawed candidate.
He contended that the defeat was the result of a “crunching economic environment,” rather than a rejection of the individual at the top of the ticket. According to him, global incumbent losses in 2024 prove that Ghana’s political shift was part of a larger international trend of voters punishing ruling parties during economic crises.
Mr. Karbo specifically cited the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), the persistent “galamsey” crisis, and broad economic difficulties as the primary factors that “tuned out the electorate during the last cycle.” He noted that despite the NPP administration’s good ideas, the huge economic problems in Ghana made it difficult to gain public attention.
In an unexpected comparison, Mr. Karbo suggested that voters are currently drawn to a “mellow” and “gentle” presidential style – a quality he believes both Dr. Bawumia and President Mahama possess.
“People are beginning to see a consistent presidential candidate. A person who is very knowledgeable, very humble, very calm, is the type of president Ghanaians are looking for.
“You cannot describe Mahama without talking about the fact that he is indeed a gentle president and that is the kind of fellow Ghanaians are looking for. People are looking for a candidate who is very accessible – a person who listens”
Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, Senior Advisor to the Bawumia Campaign
The campaign advisor claimed that Bawumia’s consistent and calm messaging across the country is winning over voters who are looking for a steady, knowledgeable leader. Whether in Cape Coast or Yendi, he argued, the message remains the same, reinforcing Bawumia’s image as a reliable candidate for the 2028 cycle.
As the January 31 primary approaches, the Bawumia camp remains focused on portraying their candidate as the most “competent” choice to eventually challenge the current Mahama administration.
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