File photo of former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufour (L) and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Former Vice President and NPP presidential candidate for the 2024 elections, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has disclosed how former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor, became a great source of inspiration to him after the general elections last year.
Dr. Bawumia lost the presidential election by attaining 42% of the national votes.
Although the defeat was painful, Dr. Bawumia revealed that the Statesman, J.A. Kufuor inspired him by telling him how he equally lost the presidential election in 1996 when he also contested for the first time.
“After the 2024 elections, President Kufuor shared some inspiring words with me. He told me not to despair because when he contested the first time as NPP Presidential Candidate in 1996, he had 39%, but he and the party worked hard and came back strongly to win 4 years later in 2000.”
“He encouraged me and said I had nearly 42% as a first timer and he had 39%. He also said nobody in the 4th Republic, especially in the NPP, has won on the first attempt…He contested twice and won, and President Akufo-Addo won it on the 3rd attempt.”
“If you look at the history in the NDC, former President Mills didn’t win it on the first attempt. He won it on the 3rd attempt and President Mahama lost twice before coming back to win again,” he recounted while delivering a speech during his “Thank You Tour” on Sunday April 27, 2025.
Dr. Bawumia urged the NPP to remain resolute in their resolve to win the 2028 elections.
“President Kufuor’s words are encouraging and with unity, the NPP will come back strongly in 2028 just as we did in 2000 with President Kufuor after he had 39% in 1996.”
Dr. Bawumia was accompanied by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) members including their National Chairman, Stephen Ntim and General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua.
