There is a lot of work to be done – Bawumia to NPP MPs

The 2024 Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on Thursday, June 19, delivered a clear message of focus and hard work to a formidable delegation of over 60 MPs who stormed his office to publicly declare their support for his anticipated bid for the party’s presidential nomination in the 2028 general elections.

Despite the visible show of force and unwavering loyalty from the parliamentarians, Dr. Bawumia tempered the celebratory mood with a pragmatic assessment of the tasks ahead.

While appreciating their solidarity, he emphasised, “There is a lot of work to be done.”

The spontaneous show of force by the parliamentarians marks one of the most substantial early endorsements in the looming contest to succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Dr. Bawumia, visibly buoyed by the visit, acknowledged the profound implications of such parliamentary backing.

“Members of parliament, I think that it was a very happy visit; it was a courtesy call and it’s a call to declare support for me and I am so happy,” Dr. Bawumia stated.

He further quantified the rapidly growing number of his parliamentary allies, revealing, “in terms of the group that have declared support for me from parliament, it now amounts to just over 60 members of parliament and you know we have 88 members of parliament and so that tells you that a very significant number of members of parliament have declared their support for me.”

This figure indicates that approximately 68% of the NPP’s current caucus in Parliament has thrown its weight behind the former vice president, offering a powerful early advantage in the internal party dynamics.

Dr. Bawumia underscored the strategic importance of this parliamentary endorsement.

“Because the members of parliament, as you know, control the constituencies to a large extent, and I’m very, very happy for exactly what they have done today; it’s a strong show of support and I thank them and I thank God for this strong show of support,” he expressed, recognising their crucial role in grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement across the country’s 275 constituencies.

Despite the burgeoning political momentum, Dr. Bawumia quickly pivoted to the immediate responsibilities facing the party and government.

He concluded his remarks with a rallying call for continued dedication: “And off we go, there’s a lot of hard work to be done so that we can help the party and help the country.”

This statement highlights his strategic focus on tangible achievements and national development as key to securing future political success.

The significant parliamentary backing positions Dr. Bawumia as a strong frontrunner well ahead of the NPP’s official presidential primaries, which are typically held closer to the election year. This early show of loyalty sets a compelling tone for what promises to be an intensely contested race for the party’s flagbearership in 2028.