The Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on Monday morning, filed his nomination forms at the head office of the Electoral Commission in Accra to contest the 2024 Presidential Election.
The Vice President submitted his nomination forms at around 9:00 AM, accompanied by his Running Mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and the Second Lady, Mrs. Samira Bawumia.
Other NPP stalwarts who accompanied the Flagbearer were Mr. Stephen Ayesu Ntim, Chairman of the NPP; Mr. Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary of the NPP; Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff; Mr. Afenyo Markin, Majority Leader in Parliament; Mr. Henry Quartey, Minister of Interior; Mr. Freddie Blay, Former Chairman of the NPP; and Mr. Dan Botwe, Chairman of Dr. Bawumia’s Campaign.
Among the documents submitted by Dr. Bawumia were six copies of the nomination forms, a banker’s draft for nomination fees (GHS100,000), a tax clearance certificate, an asset declaration certificate, and a clearance document from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service.
Mrs. Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, received Dr. Bawumia’s nomination forms on behalf of the Commission. Mrs. Mensa noted that it was the first time a sitting Vice President was submitting his nomination forms to the Commission to contest the presidential election.
She said the EC had constituted two teams to scrutinize the documents of the presidential aspirants to ensure they satisfied the key requirements.
Mrs. Mensa assured Dr. Bawumia’s Campaign Team that the Committee would “get to work immediately” and provide feedback to the Flagbearer “soon.”
“We have no doubt that the teams will conduct themselves in a fair but firm process,” she said.
Dr. Bawumia remarked that it was part of God’s plan for him to be the first sitting Vice President to submit his nomination forms to contest the presidential election.
He prayed for a peaceful 2024 General Election and God’s blessings for the EC in carrying out the “difficult job.”
“We are a very proud democracy, and we need to reinforce it and continue to improve upon it,” Dr. Bawumia said.
The EC will be receiving nomination forms from presidential aspirants from Monday, September 9 to Friday, September 13, 2024.
Meanwhile, Dr. Bawumia stated that, with barely three months to the December elections, the narrative has changed, with the NPP now having the momentum to win the December 7 Election.
He said that about a year ago, his opponents were confident of victory, but with 89 days left until the elections, the electoral indicators were now favoring the NPP to cruise to victory in the December 7 polls.
Vice-President Bawumia, addressing party supporters at the NPP’s headquarters in Accra after filing his nomination forms for the December Presidential Election, said the Elephant Party was in good shape and moving toward victory in this year’s elections. “The elections are about ideas, not fighting. Those who don’t have ideas resort to fighting. “My vision is to uplift and transform Ghana,” Dr. Bawumia assured.
The NPP Flagbearer noted that the NPP Government had outperformed the NDC in almost every sector and highlighted some of the policy interventions and infrastructural developments implemented by the Akufo-Addo-led government.
The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr. Afenyo Markin, said the NPP was an inclusive Party that provided opportunities for everyone to excel, irrespective of religious or ethnic backgrounds. Mr. Markin, therefore, charged the rank and file of the Party to unite behind the Flagbearer and work extra hard in the constituencies, electoral areas, and polling stations for victory in this year’s elections.
Mr. Daniel Botwe, the National Chairman of the Bawumia Campaign, entreated Party supporters to avoid complacency and work hard to realize the vision of winning the December polls.
He said the Party had men and women of integrity and urged them to conduct a decent, idea-based campaign.
The gathering at the Party’s headquarters attracted the wife of the Flagbearer, Mrs. Hajia Samira Bawumia, NPP Running Mate Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh and his wife, Mrs. Ablade-Prempeh, National Chairman of the Party, Mr. Stephen Ayesu Ntim, the General Secretary, Mr. Justin Kodua Frimpong, and party supporters.
