Religious Politics Is Dangerous For NPP …Bawumia Tells Opponents

Former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has sounded a strong caution to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against what he described as the dangerous infiltration of tribal and religious politics in the party’s internal campaigns.

His comments come in the wake of increasing intra-party tensions ahead of the selection of the NPP’s 2028 Presidential Candidate, expected early next year.

While the internal race is yet to be officially opened, subtle campaigns have begun and in some quarters, they have taken a divisive tone.

Over the weekend, a video surfaced showing NPP Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Steven Amoah, who is also a known supporter of Kennedy Agyapong, addressing TESCON members in Kumasi.

In the footage, Dr. Steven Amoah claimed Christians in the country were not ready for a Muslim leader, an apparent reference to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Speaking at the party’s Constituency Chairmen Caucus meeting in Kumasi on Saturday, Dr. Bawumia warned that such religious and tribal campaign strategies are deeply harmful to the party’s fabric.

“We are a united party encompassing people from all ethnic groups, all religions and we are all part of the elephant family. It is, therefore, very important that we do not allow people for the sake of political advantage to bring us apart as a party,” Dr. Bawumia said.

“I’m saying this because recently people are going religious and tribal. That’s dangerous for the New Patriotic Party. Very dangerous for us, if you go in that direction,” he added.

He also responded to claims, largely circulated by persons associated with other flagbearer hopefuls, suggesting the NPP lost the 2024 election because Christians refused to vote for a Muslim candidate. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia described these claims as false and divisive.

“What is clear and it is stated in black and white in the Prof Oquaye report, as well as all the other surveys is that religion and tribe were not factors in the 2024 election. So we should not try to create and say that Christians would not vote for Bawumia. My 4.7m votes, were there only Muslims who voted for me? It is not possible. All voted for me.”

The Former Vice President further questioned why past presidential candidates’ electoral defeats were never attributed to religion.

“When Kufuor lost did we say religion? When Mills lost did we say religion? When Nana Akufo-Addo lost did we say religion? That is not a factor, but people want to make it a factor for political reasons.

“He explained that if he genuinely believed his religion was a hindrance to the party’s chances in 2028, he would not have contested.

“If that was the case, I wouldn’t have contested at all. I would have stepped aside if that is the case because I’m not a selfish person. I value the party. If that was the case, I would have stepped aside because I would not jeopardise the ability of the party to win the 2028 election.

“I would have stepped aside, but that is not the case. People are trying to do that for their own political advantage and it is really dangerous for our party.”

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