Member of Parliament for Sammy Awuku, has predicted that the absence of John Dramani Mahama on the 2028 presidential ballot paper will give Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) a major political advantage in the 2028 general elections.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s Ghana Nie hosted by Nana Yaw Fianko, the Akuapem North MP argued that Ghana’s political history has shown that the popularity of presidential candidates significantly influences election outcomes.
According to him, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) may struggle to present a candidate with the same political appeal as President Mahama, the NPP still has Dr. Bawumia as a strong and marketable figure ahead of the 2028 polls.
Sammy Awuku admitted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) made mistakes while in government but says the party has learnt valuable lessons ahead of the 2028 general elections.
The Akuapem North MP stated that the NPP took the support of some Ghanaians for granted during its time in office.
According to him, the situation would change should Mahamudu Bawumia become President.
“We took the love of our people for granted. That won’t be the case when Dr. Bawumia becomes President,” he stated.
ALSO READ: Protect Yourself Digitally — Charles Fiifi Hagan Advises Ghanaians
Mr. Awuku further noted that one of the major mistakes of the previous administration was the failure to ensure equal distribution of appointments across constituencies.
He explained that aside from Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), some constituencies had no representation in government appointments, a situation he believes affected party support at the grassroots.
He also appealed to the NPP’s 2028 flagbearer hopeful, Dr. Bawumia, not to dismiss public sector workers employed under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration should the NPP return to power.
“Many people were cut off because they were employed during the NPP era. My appeal to Bawumia is not to sack people employed by the NDC,” he stressed, adding that Dr. Bawumia would rather focus on expanding employment opportunities.
Touching on political communication and public criticism, Sammy Awuku said the NDC benefited greatly from free speech while in opposition and urged government to tolerate criticisms, especially on social media.
According to him, social media has become a platform where citizens freely express dissatisfaction and concerns, making it necessary for governments to engage and address such sentiments constructively.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu