Renowned investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has spoken out in defense of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, condemning tribal remarks made against him by some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Manasseh criticized party members who referred to Bawumia as an “outsider,” urging the NPP to evaluate him based on competence, dedication, and contribution rather than tribe or religion.
He drew comparisons to former Convention People’s Party (CPP) Member of Parliament Freddie Blay, who joined the NPP and rose to become National Chairman in 2018.
“Why was Freddie Blay, a former member of another party, fully accepted, yet Dr. Bawumia, who has served the party faithfully for years, is still labeled an outsider?” he questioned, highlighting what he described as an unfair and divisive narrative.
Manasseh pointed out that Bawumia is often targeted simply because he is the only non-Akan among the party’s top leadership contenders.
He warned that tribal remarks, like those reportedly made by the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim South, Kwaku Asante Boateng, who allegedly referred to Bawumia as a “slave,” are dangerous and politically unwise. Such rhetoric, he argued, threatens party unity and could alienate supporters across Ghana.
The journalist also reminded Ghanaians of Bawumia’s dedication to the NPP, citing his role as a key witness in the 2012 election petition and his hard work during the 2016 campaign that helped secure victory for the party. Manasseh praised him for intelligence, courage, and personal sacrifice.
He concluded by urging party members to focus on character, competence, and loyalty rather than ethnic background.
“Anyone who looks down on people from northern Ghana is not only attacking Bawumia but also showing disrespect to all Ghanaians from minority groups,” Manasseh wrote.
The journalist emphasized that unchecked tribal politics within the NPP could be divisive and even threaten the party’s political success if not addressed immediately, calling for unity and fair evaluation of leaders regardless of their ethnic or regional origin.
This statement has reignited discussions on the role of ethnicity in Ghanaian politics and highlighted the need for inclusivity in party leadership decisions.
The journalist emphasized that unchecked tribal politics within the NPP could be divisive and even threaten the party’s political success if not addressed immediately, calling for unity and fair evaluation of leaders regardless of their ethnic or regional origin.
This statement has reignited discussions on the role of ethnicity in Ghanaian politics and highlighted the need for inclusivity in party leadership decisions.