By picking up nomination forms, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has made a key step in his quest to lead the New Patriotic Party before the 2024 elections.

Together with former National Organiser Sammy Awuku, former vice chairman of the NPP Fred Oware, collected the documents on behalf of the Vice President.

Close advisers informed the media that the Vice President will vie for the party’s flagbearer position, but he had been silent publicly about it for months. However, Dr. Bawumia finally announced his intention to run for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership in November to party members in the Volta Region on Monday.

On May 26, a group referred to as the “Bawumia Fan Club” also collected the nomination papers for the Vice President. In order to help the NPP break the 8 and maintain control in the 2024 elections, the group headed by its founder, Ntim Jakari, said that Dr. Bawumia deserves to be chosen as its leader. The organization then paid the GH50,000 nomination fee on the candidate’s behalf.

At a casual gathering of NPP supporters held over the weekend in Hohoe, Dr. Bawumia reaffirmed his resolve to guiding the group to victory in the 2024 election. He expressed gratitude for the support he has received and reaffirmed his resolve to win the flagbearership, end the cycle of eight years, and take up residence at Jubilee House.

“I want you to know that I appreciate your support. We are going to break the 8. First of all, we are going to file for the flagbearership which I’m going to do, win the flagbearership, break the 8, and go to Jubilee House…That is what I’m going to do.”
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

The Vice President is one of ten candidates, who have officially declared their interest in receiving the baton from Akufo-Addo for the position of NPP leader.

For the contest that was originally scheduled for later this year, only roughly half of them have chosen nomination forms thus far. If more than five candidates file to run, a preliminary round will be held, with only five candidates moving on to the main round of voting.

Others To Run Against Bawumia

The other nine known aspirants to run for the position of NPP Flagbearer are: Former Trade and Industry Minister, John Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong; Former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie-Akoto.

Former Minister of Energy, Boakye Agyarko; Former Minster for Railway Development, Joe Ghartey; Former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong; Former MP for Mampong, Francis Addai Nimoh, Senior Lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba(UEW), Eric Sakyi Nketiah and a Former MP for Offinso North constituency and Minister for Regional Cooperation and NEPAD, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku.

Last week Friday, supporters of some key aspirants were at the party’s headquarters in Accra to pick the nomination forms for their aspirants.

Former Minister of Energy, Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko, was the first to have his supporters pick the forms. Speaking after picking the forms, the spokesperson for the former energy minister, Dr Benjamin Ashitey, revealed that he along with the aspirant’s team are not intimidated by the noise other teams make, as they have a strategy and are keeping to it.

Following closely were supporters of former Presidential Spokesperson and NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong; former Mampong Member of Parliament, Francis Addai-Nimoh and former Offinso North MP and Minister of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD, Dr Kofi Kon.

The presidential primary nomination season will run from May 26 until June 24, 2023. On November 4, 2023, the NPP will hold its presidential primaries to choose its standard-bearer and represent the party in the 2024 election.

However, the party will call a Special Congress on August 26, 2023 if more than five candidates submit paperwork to run in the primaries.