By Mercy Darko
The New Patriotic Party’s 2024 flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has pushed back against claims of tribalism, stating that the party’s tradition is to select leaders based on merit, not ethnic background.
During a stakeholder engagement at Lapaz in Accra, the former Vice President underscored that the NPP rejects tribal voting.
To prove his point, Dr. Bawumia recalled the party’s history, highlighting that the late Dr. K. A. Busia was chosen as the United Party’s leader even though the Northern People’s Party held the majority, and called on members not to listen to divisive propaganda.
“I want everyone to understand that this tribal propaganda does not align with the NPP. We do not vote on tribal lines. It is not part of the NPP’s tradition,” he noted.
“If you go back to 1957, when Nkrumah was voted into power, he passed the Avoidance of Discrimination Act and we formed the United Party (UP) because we did not want parties based on different regions. Before the UP was formed, the Northern People’s Party, which had S. D. Dombo, had the majority. They came in with thirteen seats. Dr. Busia, who was with the Ghana Congress Party, had only one seat. Normally, the Northern People’s Party should have been given the leadership role, but Dr. Busia was given the mandate to lead,” Dr. Bawumia explained.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Trobu Constituency, Gloria Owusu, has attributed the party’s defeat in the 2024 general election to the attitude exhibited by some party members and MPs prior to the elections.
While assuring Dr. Bawumia of the constituency’s support, Madam Gloria called for unity among members.
