Bawumia’s Concession: A Staged Attempt to Rescue a Failed Legacy
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the defeated presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has conceded the December 7 elections to John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). While his concession has contributed to reducing tension in the country, it is important to examine its true intent. For those of us who are members of the NDC Norway branch, this staged act of humility is nothing more than an attempt by Bawumia, who is known for his theatrics, to salvage his tarnished reputation and rebrand himself for future political ambitions. Ghanaians must not allow themselves to be deceived by this calculated move.
Leader of the Economic Mismanagement Team
Bawumia’s record speaks volumes, and it is one of unmitigated failure. As the self-proclaimed “economic whiz kid,” Bawumia led Akufo Addo’s so-called Economic Management Team (EMT), a group that steered Ghana into one of the worst economic crises in its history. Under his watch, the national debt ballooned to unprecedented levels due to reckless borrowing and fiscal irresponsibility. The EMT failed to address Ghana’s pressing economic challenges, instead prioritising populist programs with no sustainable funding mechanisms.
Under Bawumia’s leadership, inflation skyrocketed, unemployment surged, and the cedi became one of the worst-performing currencies in the region. His lofty promises about digitalisation and economic transformation proved to be hollow slogans, masking the NPP’s gross incompetence and corruption. Bawumia was at the helm of this disastrous economic shipwreck, and no amount of rebranding can erase his complicity in the economic hardship Ghanaians have endured.
A Key Player in the Looting of Ghana
Beyond economic mismanagement, Bawumia was part of the NPP clique that looted Ghana. Under the Akufo Addo misadministration, corruption was rampant, with public funds diverted for personal and party gains. Scandals like the missing COVID-19 funds, questionable procurement contracts, and inflated government projects characterised their tenure. As Vice President, Bawumia not only failed to speak out against these atrocities, but actively participated in an administration that robbed Ghanaians of their future.
His complicity extended to the environmental crisis caused by illegal mining, or galamsey. Despite public outcry, the Akufo Addo administration turned a blind eye to this activity, allowing it to pollute water bodies and destroy fertile lands. Bawumia was silent as Ghanaians suffered the consequences of this environmental degradation. His silence was not the silence of ignorance but of complicity.
The Hidden Agenda Behind the Concession
Bawumia’s concession, though welcomed for reducing immediate tensions, is not born out of genuine humility or statesmanship. It is a strategic move to distance himself from the disastrous legacy of Nana Akufo Addo, the most corrupt and narcissistic president in Ghana’s history. Bawumia knows that his association with Akufo Addo has turned him into a political liability, and he is now attempting to discard his errand boy status - or “driver’s mate” role - under the outgoing administration.
This concession is also a calculated effort to reposition himself for the 2028 elections. By appearing magnanimous in defeat, Bawumia seeks to distance himself from the radical, ethnocentric elements within the NPP, whose divisive rhetoric has alienated many Ghanaians. He hopes to present himself as a moderate and a unifier, but this charade will not succeed. Ghanaians have seen through the facade, and the NDC will ensure that the truth about Bawumia’s role in Akufo Addo’s corrupt administration remains in the public consciousness.
Tainted Leadership in the Bawku Crisis
Bawumia’s political opportunism is further highlighted by his involvement in the Bawku crisis. While he postures as a peacemaker, it is no secret that he pulled the strings behind the scenes, exploiting the conflict for political gain. His failure to promote genuine peace in Bawku exposed his hypocrisy and inability to lead. Now that the NPP has been driven out of power - “the elephant sent back into the bush”- Bawumia looks like a fish out of water, struggling to find relevance.
Ghanaians Will Not Be Fooled Again
Bawumia’s concession, though good for the immediate peace of Ghana, is not an act of redemption but a desperate attempt to rewrite his political narrative. The NDC will not allow this rebranding process to succeed. We will constantly remind Ghanaians of his catastrophic leadership of the Economic Mismanagement Team, his role in the looting of state resources, and his complicity in perpetuating division in Bawku.
Ghanaians deserve leaders who act with integrity, competence, and a genuine commitment to their welfare. Bawumia has proven, time and again, that he is not such a leader. His concession does not absolve him of his failures, nor does it erase the suffering he has caused. The people of Ghana have spoken decisively, rejecting the NPP and its legacy of mismanagement and corruption. They will not be deceived by hollow gestures or political theatre.
The NDC, under John Mahama, stands ready to restore hope, rebuild the economy, and reunite the country. Let this election mark the end of failed leadership and the beginning of a brighter future for Ghana. Ghanaians cannot be fooled forever, and the NDC will ensure that the truth about Bawumia and the NPP’s misrule is never forgotten.
Dr Moses Deyegbe Kuvoame - Secretary, NDC Norway
Jacob Isaka - Chairman, NDC Norway.
Dr Moses Deyegbe Kuvoame is an Associate Professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway. He earned his PhD from the University of Oslo, Faculty of Law, Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law.
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