The National Communication Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has described as embarrassment less than 62% of valid votes obtained by the Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.

This comes on the back of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s election as the Presidential candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) to lead the party to the 2024 general election.

He polled 118,210 representing 61.47% votes in the Presidential primary held across the country on Saturday, November 4, 2023, which had about 210,000 delegates casting their ballot.

His closest contender, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Ken Agyapong polled 71, 996 votes.

Commenting on the election in a statement, the National Communication Officer of the NDC stated that since the NPP expanded their electoral college in 2010 no flag bearer has been elected by less than 62%.  

“It is a big shame that, despite the unprecedented vote-buying and personal phone calls to delegates, a significant number of the NPP delegates totaling 74,236 and constituting a whopping 39% voted against his candidature in the just-ended NPP primary. He was totally rejected in two regions (Central and Volta regions) and over 50 Constituencies of his own party,” Mr. Gyamfi stated.  

He continued: “This makes him the first NPP flag-bearer to be elected by less than 62% of valid votes cast since the NPP expanded their electoral college in 2010. This is an embarrassing vote of no confidence in his leadership by almost 40% of delegates in his own party.

“This fact becomes apparent when contrasted with the 98.9% of valid votes obtained by H. E John Mahama in the 2023 NDC’s primary and the 78.89% and 94.4% obtained by Candidate Akufo-Addo in the 2010 and 2014 NPP primaries, respectively.”

The National Communication Officer of the NDC further stated that Ghanaians do not need a President whose primary goal is protect President Akufo-Addo.

“More importantly, Ghanaians don’t need a puppet as President, whose primary goal is to protect his God father- President Akufo-Addo and his corrupt family, friends and appointees from post-regime accountability.

“Despite his ridiculous claim that he will be his own man, the fact still remains, that a vote for Bawumia in 2024, will be a third-term vote for Akufo-Addo and his corrupt family and friends and enable them escape accountability for the several crimes they committed against Ghanaians,” Mr. Gyamfi stated.

He continued: “Any objective analyst will agree that Bawumia is not even an option let alone the alternative. He has nothing new to offer. He ought to be held responsible and punished for the excruciating hardships and economic mess he has plunged Ghanaians into. And I have no doubt in my mind that majority of the Ghanaian electorate will do this come December 7, 2024.”

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM