“Bawumia was rejected, but he’s still our best shot” – Akosua Manu rallies support for 2028 election

Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Team and former Adenta parliamentary candidate, Kozié Akosua Manu, has sparked a fresh wave of internal debate with a bold endorsement of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the NPP’s best hope for the 2028 presidential race—despite the party’s painful defeat in the 2024 elections.

Speaking on Prime News on ABC News GH on Wednesday, Akosua Manu addressed growing frustrations within party ranks following the loss, noting that blaming the flagbearer has unfortunately become a recurring trend.
“When we lost power in 2008, H.E. Kufuor was also blamed for it,” she recalled. “Now that there are multiple media outlets, it sort of amplifies sentiment,” she added, underscoring the role public discourse plays in shaping political narratives.

But far from abandoning ship, Manu made an impassioned case for giving Dr. Bawumia another chance.

“Dr. Bawumia should be the one to pick up the mantle,” she declared.
“Because we’ve marketed him… In 2024, Ghanaians said no to him, but as we speak, people now understand some of the sentiments he shared. It wouldn’t hurt the party to tow that line in ensuring that we all rally behind one candidate, one visionary leader—one person that will be very responsible in holding the party together. And I believe it’s him, Dr. Bawumia.”

Her remarks come at a time when the NPP is actively diagnosing the wounds of its 2024 defeat. A 12-member committee, chaired by former Speaker of Parliament Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, has submitted its final report to the National Executive Council, offering a postmortem of the party’s failed electoral strategy. The review looked into internal processes, campaign efficiency, and key factors that contributed to the loss.

High-profile figures including former President Nana Akufo-Addo, former Vice President Dr. Bawumia, and his 2024 running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, were all present at the submission.

Meanwhile, Dr. Opoku Prempeh has dismissed rising speculation that he might be preparing to take over the party’s leadership ahead of 2028. Speaking after a strategy meeting on April 16, he made it clear his priority is unity, not ambition.

“Speculation about my presidential ambitions is premature and misplaced,” he said, emphasizing the need for strategic cohesion.

Akosua Manu’s endorsement of Bawumia may yet stir the pot in an already reflective and fractious party. But as she insists, the party must begin looking beyond blame and toward rebuilding—starting with the man many still believe has unfinished business.