By Sarah Baafi
As the New Patriotic Party (NPP) goes to the polls today to elect its presidential candidate, the question of who leads the party into the 2028 general elections has taken centre stage on GBC’s Current Agenda. Contributing to the discussion, Kwame Owusu Danso Esq.
President of the Accountability Forum and a private legal practitioner, made a strong case for economic competence and responsible opposition, openly backing Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the kind of leader Ghana needs at this moment.
According to Mr. Owusu Danso, Ghana’s democracy thrives when there is a knowledgeable and credible opposition capable of holding government accountable, particularly on economic management. He argued that with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) currently in government, the NPP’s choice of leader will significantly influence how economic decisions are made in the lead-up to 2028.
“You need an opposition leader who understands the economy and will be able to put the feet of government to the fire,” he said. “Responsible opposition is important for this country.”
Providing context, Mr. Owusu Danso noted that Ghana’s recent political history shows that experience matters. He referenced President John Dramani Mahama’s return to office in 2024, despite having been voted out previously, as evidence that the electorate sometimes prioritises experience when dissatisfied with performance.
“He was rejected, yes, but in 2024, the Ghanaian public, judging performance, decided to bring him back,” he observed. “He now governs with the benefit of experience, and that is why people describe his leadership as more graceful and impactful.”
Drawing a parallel, Mr. Kwame Owusu Danso argued that the NPP must also present a figure whose background allows for serious, data-driven national debate. In his view, Dr. Bawumia’s economic expertise positions him to lead a more constructive opposition capable of engaging government on figures, trends and policy alternatives.
“Tomorrow, we should be able to contest numbers,” he stressed. “To say inflation is here, but if we do X, Y, Z, we can bring it lower. To say the policy rate has dropped, but with the right measures, it could reach single digits. Those are the progressive conversations Ghana needs.”
Mr. Owusu Danso was also critical of what he described as weak leadership currently being displayed by the NPP in Parliament, calling for a unifying figure who can rebuild the party’s front and present credible alternatives to the governing party.
“It is more imperative now than ever that the NPP gets somebody who can unify the party and serve as an arrowhead, bringing alternative solutions that challenge the status quo,” he said.
Despite stating clearly that he is not a member of the NPP and never will be, Mr. Owusu Danso concluded by declaring his preference for Dr. Bawumia to emerge from the primaries, insisting that the choice goes beyond internal party politics.
“I would love for the NPP to select Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia so that we can have informed opposition,” he said. “This is not just an internal party contest. Anyone who sees it that way is not interested in the forward march of this country.”
The NPP’s presidential primaries, taking place today, are widely seen as a defining moment for the party’s rebuilding efforts and its strategy to challenge the NDC in the 2028 general elections.
