Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has broken his silence on comments by Asante Akim South Member of Parliament (MP) Kwaku Asante Boateng, who labelled him a stranger in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and not fit to lead the party as its flagbearer.
The MP’s comment attracted widespread criticism, with the national secretariat and the NPP Ashanti Regional Parliamentary Caucus among groups that condemned the statements.
Addressing NPP members during his tour of the Oti Region on Sunday, Dr. Bawumia expressed disappointment at the comments, saying they are divisive and an affront to the proud tradition of the NPP, which, he noted, traces its roots to the United Party, a political union of religious and ethnic groups across the country.
“Those who say this don’t understand the history of our tradition. They don’t know that our tradition brought different ethnic groups together to form the UP, which we have our history from,” Dr. Bawumia said.
“Our tradition is the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition, and this is a tradition which was formed by all the main tribes across Ghana. This is the tradition of the NPP.”
Dr. Bawumia noted, however, that due to internal contest and because of hatred, some senior members of the NPP have decided to cast tribal slur against him, contrary to the unifying tradition and principles of the NPP.
“Today some of my opponents say I am an outsider and stranger, who does not deserve to lead the party because of where I come. This is dangerous, divisive and contrary to the diversity of our unifying tradition,” he said.
“I have sacrificed and served the party in many forms in campaigns, lectures, and being a star witness at the Supreme Court in opposition. I’ve had a serious accident serving this party and I’ve lost some big jobs. I’ve been a running mate four times, I’ve served as Vice President for two terms and I’ve been a flagbearer.
“If Dr. Bawumia, after 17 years of service to the party is described an outsider and stranger, how do we grow the party to attract new members from all parts of Ghana?” he asked.
Dr. Bawumia urged members of the party to reject such bigotry by a few and rather embrace diversity and respect for all members, which is the hallmark of the NPP.
“Such talks create division and we don’t need it in our party. We don’t need this in Ghana. What we need is unity and respect for all members in our party, so we should all reject such divisive comment.”
He further urged members of the NPP to vote for him as the party’s flagbearer and “send a message to these tribal bigots” that “any member from any part of the country can lead the party if you are capable”.
“It does not matter whether you are Dagomba, Ga, Dangbe, Sefwi, Ewe, Dagarti, Wala, Bono, Asante, Akyem, Kwahu, Mamprusi, Kusasi, Konkomba, Fante , Frafra, Guan or Gonja, Sisala, Kasena, Kotokoli, Bimoba, Chakosi, etc.”