According to Dr. Bawumia, he made a firm decision that he would not contest again if it was proven that his religion or ethnic background caused the NPP’s loss.
Speaking to party delegates in the Ashanti Region during his campaign for the 2028 flagbearership race, he recalled how he openly told Akufo-Addo that he would step aside if the evidence showed that being a Muslim or his Mamprusi heritage pushed voters away.
“When the Mike Ocquaye committee was formed to find out why we lost, I told President Akufo-Addo that if the report blamed my religion or tribe, I would never run again. The interest of the NPP must always come before my personal ambition,” Bawumia said.
The committee, led by former Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Ocquaye, investigated the reasons behind the defeat.
Though the final report was not made public, leaked excerpts revealed that economic hardship and voter apathy, not religion or ethnicity, were the main causes.
Dr. Bawumia therefore rejected claims that his Muslim faith or northern roots were responsible for the party’s heavy defeat. He urged critics to stop pushing that narrative, saying the evidence proved otherwise.
“The research showed clearly that my background was not the reason. We lost mainly because of the economy, and I accept that reality,” he added.
His comments have sparked debate on social media. Some supporters argued that Bawumia remains the best hope for the NPP going into the 2028 elections.
Others, however, believe his defeat in 2024 has already weakened his chances of leading the party again.
One user wrote: “There’s a reason Bawumia still looks like the right man for 2028.” Another added: “Whether it was your fault or not, we are sending you home again in 2028.”
Despite the defeat, Dr. Bawumia has already laid out a new economic vision. He promised that, if elected president, every regional capital in Ghana would have a duty-free zone to boost trade and create jobs.