The Upper East Regional Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jonathan Abdallah Salifu, says he was not surprised by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s victory in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primary, arguing that the former vice president is a familiar political opponent the NDC believes it can defeat again.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East show, Abdallah said he had even been “campaigning” for Bawumia’s emergence as the NPP flagbearer, describing the outcome as politically advantageous for his party.
“I wasn’t surprised, because I was campaigning for Bawumia myself,” he said. “When we were kids and there was a free-for-all fight, you don’t go looking for somebody stronger than you. You go for the one you think you can beat. Among all of them, we have never tried the others. We have faced Bawumia.”
Abdallah said the NDC views Bawumia as closely tied to the economic record of the Akufo-Addo administration, under which he served as vice president and head of the Economic Management Team.
“He was part of the people who were in charge of government,” Abdallah said. “What is he coming to tell Ghanaians now? That they were not doing things right? Everything today points to the fact that we are doing far better than his administration.”
He rejected narratives that Bawumia was sidelined in government decision-making, insisting that leadership comes with collective responsibility.
“When things were good, he never denied being head of the economic management team,” Abdallah said. “In leadership, if you are part of the top, you must accept responsibility for both successes and failures.”
The NDC communicator also questioned Bawumia’s credibility to present himself as a break from the past administration, arguing that voters would likely judge him based on the government’s economic challenges, including rising debt and currency instability during his tenure.
“Ghanaians didn’t believe him before when he spoke about what he would do differently,” Abdallah said, referencing past public engagements by Bawumia. “You cannot distance yourself from an administration you helped lead and then claim the successes while rejecting the failures.”
Bawumia was elected as the NPP’s flagbearer in the party’s Jan. 31 primary, defeating four other contenders — Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Kennedy Agyapong, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong and Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum — to lead the party into the 2028 general elections.
While commending the NPP for organizing what he described as a smooth internal process, Abdallah said the NDC believes the outcome clarifies the political contest ahead.
“We know him and we know his record,” he said. “That makes our work easier.”
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Bolgatanga
