Andrew Atariwine, a member of the New Patriotic Party, is calling for a new face as flagbearer of the party in the presidential race in 2028 elections.
Mr. Atariwine explained that former Vice-President Dr. mahamudu Bawumia, who was the party’s presidential candidate in the last election, has been overstretched having being at the forefront of the party’s leadership for the past 16 years and should be replaced with a new face to rejuvenate the base of the party.
“I believe if we allowed him (Dr. Bawumia) to cool off and then bring somebody with much energy and enthusiasm and inject him in the system and allow for the system to run in a manner that everybody will feel energized, I believe that maybe Ghanaians will begin to say there’s a change of direction. Let’s try this and see,” he stated.
“But if we don’t, and we repeat Dr. Bawumia, the likelihood is that the NDC will tell us, do you remember eight years ago and they just came yesterday and they have started doing the political PR in a manner that is sinking well.
If they are smart and maintain this tempo, we are going to be struggling. And I think that our political strategists and all of that need to begin to be thinking forward so that we can have consensus and not muddy the waters with any serious contest.”
He believes former Assin Central MP and former flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Ohene Agyapong is a good replacement for Dr. Bawumia as flagbearer.
“This time, I would want to place my trump card on Ken. But I’m saying that if we can push Ken forward and allow Dr. Bawumia to relax, to rest, because we have stretched the elasticity out of and allow him to relax so we can focus on Ken, trust me, winning the 2028 elections will be much easier for us than any other candidate that would want to field him.”
Atariwine made the suggestion while reacting to the recent Global Info Analytics’ National Tracking Poll.
In the race for the leadership of NPP in 2028, the poll by Global Info Analytics shows that Dr. Bawumia is the clear front runner and will likely lead the party again if voters were to elect NPP flag bearer now.
Dr Bawumia attracts 48% of the votes, while Kennedy Agyapong attracts 25%, Dr Osei Adutwum, 13% and the rest of the candidates are on 14%. Among NPP voters, Dr Bawumia attracts 57%, Kennedy Agyapong, 22% and Osei Adutwum, 11%.
Speaking Thursday on the State of Our Nation on Dreamz FM, Atariwine argued that the former flagbearer has been exhausted and should be made to step aside.
Dr. Bawumia’s close contender in the last presidential primary of the NPP Kennedy Agyapong, who has a business acumen, has what it takes to rejuvenate the party’s base and put it pole position to win the 2028 election, he contended.
