President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed confidence in the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer-elect, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
In his expressions of congratulations, Akufo-Addo stated that he thinks Dr Bawumia has the potential to unify the ranks of the NPP in order to gain power in the 2024 general elections.
President Akufo-Addo, speaking to elephant fans at the Accra Sports Stadium, urged party members to work together to guarantee that former President John Mahama does not win the 2024 elections.
“I am passing on the flagbearer role of our party after you have honoured me to lead this party, and you have allowed me to serve this great party. I cannot forget. I have done my best, but I am still left with one thing to do, and that is to help elect Bawumia as president. So let us pull together to ensure [John] Mahama does not return to power.”
“I am confident Bawumia will be able to unite this party, with the help of the other three contestants, to inflict a successful defeat on Mahama.”
President Akufo-Addo also commended the party’s leadership, from the local to the national levels, for a well-fought campaign.
“My message is simple and it is one of gratitude to the regional executives, national executives, local executives, and all the people who contributed to this. And I want to thank you.”
Dr Bawumia beat three other contenders, including Kennedy Agyapong, the outspoken Assin Central MP; Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Minister for Agriculture; and Francis Addai-Nimoh, a former Mampong MP.
Dr Bawumia received 118210 votes, representing 61.47%, while Mr Agyapong received 71,996 votes, representing 37.41%, according to certified results announced by a Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, Dr Serebour Quaicoe.
Dr Afriyie Akoto, who finished third, received 1,459 votes, or 0.76%, while Addai-Nimoh received 731 votes, representing 0.41%.
In Saturday’s presidential primary, 192,446 delegates voted. The total number of valid votes was 193,346, with 900 votes invalidated. The voter turnout was 94.63%.
Bawumia was expected to win the presidential primary from the start, but he fell short of the 80% threshold established by members of his campaign staff.
