Focus on ideas, not insults – Bawumia tells NPP flagbearer hopefuls

Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has called on members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to uphold decorum in the lead-up to the party’s presidential primary scheduled for January 2026.

Speaking on Wednesday, August 13, when over 490 youth organisers — including substantive and deputy youth leaders from constituencies nationwide — presented his nomination forms, Dr. Bawumia urged aspirants and their supporters to shun insults during the campaign.

“I want this flagbearership election to be conducted with decorum. We’re not in a campaign of insults, and we should not be in a campaign of insults. It should be about ideas. And that is what will capture the imagination of Ghanaians.

“What ideas do we have? What are we bringing to the table? How are we going to solve the problems Ghanaians face? As a party, I admonish everybody, all the aspirants and our supporters, that let us focus on marketing or selling our respective aspirants,” he advised.

Dr. Bawumia cautioned that negative campaigning could damage the party and provide ammunition for its political opponents.

“When we bring down other people, we bring down the party. Our messages will be taken by our opponents, and they will use them against us.

“I will not, and you will never hear me insulting any aspirants. Because when this election is over, we have to contest a general election. And if we divide ourselves today, we will have difficulty in uniting for a general election tomorrow. So, let us begin the process with unity, and end with unity because that will bring victory in 2028.”