Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia appears poised to sweep the Western North Region in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Primaries in January, following series of endorsements from delegates across constituencies in the region.
The 2024 NPP flagbearer, on the 4th leg of his nationwide tour, having already visited the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions, has seen rising support on his tour of the Western North Region, which began on Tuesday, October 28.
On the opening day in Sefwi Akontombra, Aowin and Suaman, Dr Bawumia received enthusiastic welcome from delegates and constituency executives, who rolled the red carpet; chanting his name, his values and openly endorsing his candidature to lead the NPP in 2028.
The support even grew bigger on the second day, with endorsement messages in Bia East, Bia West, Juaboso and Bodi, reflecting what delegates and party officers had said the previous day.
Dr Bawumia’s decency, humility, experience and commitment to the progress of the NPP, as well as his long standing relationship with grassroot members of the party in the region, were generally highlighted by party faithful, as reasons for their choice of Bawumia.
Each speaker, right in front the delegates and each grassroot member who spoke randomly to the media present, almost unanimously, highlighted these same attributes as reasons for their unflinching support for Bawumia.
“Here in Bia East, you are adored because of your humility. Inspite of all the attacks against you, you don’t even respond and this is part of the reasons why here in Bia, we are resolved to vote for you again,” the constituency Chairman for Bia East, John Ameyaw, said in a welcome address on behalf of his people.
“We commend you for your decency and humility. Let them say whatever they want to say about you. It will never be the case. Continue to be who you are and victory will be yours,” he added.
In Bia West, the message was similar and the endorsement was equally emphatic.
“As for us, the only person we know is Dr Bawumia,” said the Chairman of Bia West.
“We’ve known you for so many years. You have been with us all these years here and in the region so we will continue to be behind you until you lead us to victory.”
Dr Bawumia’s popularity and growing support in the Western North Region, one of the most deprived regions in the country, is also influenced by a number of projects members of the party say he helped to bring to the people as Vice President.
For example, a key road to Kumasi from the region, which Dr. Bawumia cut the sod for its construction a few years ago, has made the journey so smooth that references have been made alongside other projects.
Also, the Zipline Medical drone service, which sends essential medical supplies to remote areas in real time, has been serving remote areas in the Western North well and delegates have expressed their admiration for Dr Bawumia for championing such a life-saving initiatives.
“Thanks to your vision, farmers in this region are no longer afraid of emergencies because the drone you helped to establish has been delivering essential medical supplies to us,” said another delegate to the Vice President.
Dr Bawumia’s close association with the delegates, through his previous visits, numbering a minimum six times in some constituencies, is also widely acknowledged and appreciated.
In the 2023 NPP primaries, Dr Bawumia swept the votes in 7 out of the 8 constituencies of the Western North and from all indications, it is obvious Dr Bawumia’s support in the region is still intact, and it won’t even be a surprise if he sweeps all the constituencies this time, as the people have demonstrated their unwavering support.