Former Vice President and 2024 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has delivered a comprehensive New Year message reflecting on Ghana’s political journey, economic pressures, democratic institutions and the future direction of both the nation and his party.
The address, delivered at the start of the year, congratulates President John Dramani Mahama on his first year in office, urges the protection of democratic institutions, and calls for unity within the NPP as it prepares for the 2028 general elections.
Here’s Bawumia’s New Year message in full text.
“Beloved Ghanaians and distinguished members of the New Patriotic Party, I bring you warm greetings of hope, reflection and renewed commitment to our beloved nation Ghana. It is the dawn of a new day as we step into a new year. I humbly speak to you with a full heart, grateful for life, mindful of our journey as a nation and hopeful about what lies ahead.
“A new year gives us a pause and a moment to reflect on where we are coming from, the choices we have made and the future we still hope to build together with quiet thought and renewed resolve. I know that for many Ghanaians the past year has not been easy. Parents have worried about providing for their families, and unemployed young people have wondered when the 24-hour economy will provide them the promised jobs.
“Traders, workers, professionals and farmers have all felt the pressure in different ways, notwithstanding the improved macroeconomic stability. A lot has happened since 7th December 2024, and I know many of us continue to reflect on it every day. I congratulate President John Mahama on his first year in office and I sincerely wish him well in the discharge of his mandate.
“The Ghanaian people have bestowed a sacred trust on him, and he cannot afford to fail them. I therefore urge him to continue to guard jealously the peace, stability and unity of our nation. Ghana has always stood out as a beacon in a region that has seen too much turmoil and instability.
“The foundation President Mahama inherited was solid in many ways. It is imperative that we build on it and not let it slip. I say this because this matters more now than ever.
“You may have heard about the results of the 2025 Global Peace Index. Ghana has dropped six places to 61st in the world and from 4th to 7th in Sub-Saharan Africa. These results point to growing security worries and pockets of unrest in the country.
“Again, one of Ghana’s greatest strengths since the inception of the Fourth Republic has been the independence and credibility of our democratic institutions. The world looks at us and says that is how democracy should work, but in the course of the year we have seen gaping cracks appearing. For example, the manner in which Ghana’s third female Chief Justice was hounded out of office in fulfilment of a campaign pledge hurt many of us who believe in the independence of the judiciary.
“Let me stress unequivocally that when institutions are weakened, democracy is weakened. When institutions are politicised, trust is lost. Ghana’s democracy must never be sacrificed on the altar of short-term political advantage.
“There could be no turning back for our nation. Many Ghanaians have expressed concern about the direction of our national cohesion and the strength of our democratic institutions. These concerns should not be dismissed.
“When citizens begin to worry about fairness, independence and consistency, confidence is affected, and when confidence is shaken, progress becomes harder. I therefore respectfully advise President Mahama to focus on strengthening, not undermining, the institutions that underpin our democratic order.
“To my brothers and sisters in the New Patriotic Party, this is a defining moment in our journey. Ours is a party founded on the principles of freedom, justice and opportunities for all. These ideals demand more than slogans. They demand unity, discipline and leadership rooted in selfless service and unquestionable courage.
“As a family, we may differ in opinions, but we must never differ in purpose. Division weakens us, unity strengthens us, and history will judge us not by how loudly we speak but by how wisely we choose. This new year calls on us to rally together and to select a leader of integrity, dedication and a genuine spirit of service.
“Someone who understands that leadership is not about privilege but about responsibility. It is not about a few people prospering but about every Ghanaian having a fair chance to succeed. On 31st January, we will choose our flag bearer for the 2028 elections, marking the start of our comeback journey.
“We have undertaken major constitutional reforms to our party, including the broadening of the electoral college to guarantee wider inclusivity. To every MPP member listening to me, let us keep our eyes fixed on the prize. We must win 2028 for the sake of Ghana.
“We should not be distracted by the storms around us, the rumours and the perceived divisions. Let us put aside anything that has the potential of dividing our party even further. This flagbearership contest should only be about ideas and vision, and not personal attacks on any of us.
“We only provide ammunition to our opponents if we engage in such anti-party acts. I want to assure all of you that I am in this with you, committed to rebuilding our party and working to ensure our dear party wins back the trust of Ghanaians. Let us continue to listen to the Ghanaian people whom we seek to serve, for their concerns must be our concerns.
“NPP Members of Parliament will continue to hold this government accountable, ask the tough questions and fight for the ordinary Ghanaian every single day. Our mighty minority may be smaller in numbers, but we are determined.
“As I end, I appeal to all of us to dream a little about the Ghana we can have — a country where we put aside our ethnic and religious differences and pull together as one people. I want to be part of building that Ghana, and if you will walk with me, I believe we can make it happen.
“I am ready to lead the New Patriotic Party into the next election and, with your support, my beloved Ghanaians, to serve as the next President of our great nation. I have always believed that our young people are capable, hardworking and full of ideas, waiting not for sympathy but for opportunities to be better.
“I believe that with the right focus, we can create jobs, support small businesses and deploy smart ideas to make government work better, ensuring that education and healthcare remain pathways to opportunity. The vision is for a Ghana that works for everyone.
“I am determined to restore trust in our institutions and put Ghana back on top as Africa’s proudest nation. It is possible. May this year bring peace to our hopes, strength to our efforts and renewed faith in our shared destiny.
May God bless you and your families. May God bless our democracy, and may God bless our beloved homeland, Ghana. Happy New Year from my home to yours.”
