According to one of the Aides of H. E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, “Dr. Bawumia despite inheriting an economic mess still mobilised more votes than any first-time NPP candidate except Akufo-Addo”.
The above statement is clearly a distortion of facts, as well as lack accuracy of proper scientific analysis of data.
First and foremost, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as a 2024 Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) inherited the economic mess from:
- Who?
- Which government?
- Which political party?
The NPP government of which Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was the Vice-President and Head of Economic Management Team handed power to itself on 7th January 2021 after winning the 2020 general elections. So, in effect, it means that Dr. Bawumia inherited the economic mess from which source?
Now, putting the facts forward regarding the electoral performance of first-time NPP candidates, it is NOT entirely true that, Dr. Bawumia mobilized more votes than any first-time NPP candidate except Akufo-Addo.
As a matter of fact, it is only Akufo-Addo that we can match his electoral performance to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia because both of them contested the national presidential elections at the period when NPP was in government for 8 years (incumbent Presidential candidates) respectively.
Professor Albert Adu Boahen contested the 1992 Presidential election at the time UP Tradition has been in opposition for 20 years after the overthrown of Busia government in 1972.
John Agyekum Kufuor contested the 1996 Presidential election at the time UP Tradition has been in opposition for 24 years after the overthrown of Busia government in 1972.
Electoral Performance of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in 2024 as a first-timer
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia polled 4, 877, 611 votes based on:
- Total Valid Votes of 11, 683, 483
- Total Rejected Ballots of
247, 937 - Total Votes Cast of
11, 931, 420 - Total Valid Voters(Registered Voters) of
18, 774, 159 - Voters Turnout of 63.9%
- 275 out of 276 Constituencies, with the Ablekuma North Constituency still outstanding.
- John Mahama obtaining 6, 591, 790 votes
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia lost the 2024 Presidential election
with votes difference of 1, 714, 179 between him and John Mahama.
Electoral Performance of Professor Adu Boahen in 1992 as a first-timer
Professor Adu Boahen polled 1, 204, 764 votes based on:
- Total Valid Votes of 3, 978, 065
- Total Rejected Ballots of
149, 811 - Total Votes Cast of
4, 127, 876 - Total Valid Voters(Registered Voters) of
8, 229, 902 - Voters Turnout of
50.16% - 200 Constituencies
- Jerry John Rawlings obtaining 2, 323, 135 votes
Professor Albert Adu Boahen lost the 1992 presidential election with votes difference of 1, 118, 371 between him and Jerry John Rawlings.
Electoral Performance of John Agyekum Kufuor in 1996 as a first-timer
John Agyekum Kufuor polled 2, 834, 878 votes based on:
- Total Valid Votes of 7, 145, 772
- Total Rejected Ballots of
120, 921 - Total Votes Cast of 7, 266, 693
- Total Valid Voters(Registered Voters) of
9, 279, 605 - Voters Turnout of 78.31%
- 200 Constituencies
- Jerry John Rawlings obtaining 4, 099, 758 votes
John Agyekum Kufuor lost the 1996 Presidential election with votes difference of 1, 264, 880 between him and Jerry John Rawlings.
Unbiased Verdict
Based on the aforementioned facts and data, in terms of Raw Data or Actual Votes mobilized respectively for 2024, 1996, and 1992, it is NEVER true that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia Mobilized more Votes than Professor Adu Boahen and John Agyekum Kufuor:
- Professor Albert Adu Boahen lost 1992 presidential election with votes difference of 1, 118, 371, which is far less than Dr. Bawumia’s loss of 1, 714, 179, implying that 1, 714, 179 minus 1, 118, 371 = 595, 808 votes difference)
- John Agyekum Kufuor lost the 1996 presidential election with votes difference of 1, 264, 880, which is far less than Dr. Bawumia’s loss of 1, 714, 179, implying that 1, 714, 179 minus 1, 264, 880 = 449, 299 votes difference
Correct and well learned Data Scientist or Data Analyst do not ONLY rely on percentages to draw conclusions. It is very serious erroneous assumption to compare Dr. Bawumia’s 41.75% in 2024 to Adu Boahen’s 30.29% in 1992, and John Kufuor’s 39.67% in 1996, and exclusively conclude that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia mobilized more Votes than Professor Albert Adu Boahen and John Agyekum Kufuor. Raw data would always give you the raw and accurate performance of Candidates, not rating performance based on percentages.
Electoral Performance of Nana Akufo-Addo as a First-Timer
It is without doubt that, Nana Akufo-Addo did extremely well in the 2008 presidential election as a first-timer, losing the election with 40, 586 votes difference between him and Prof. John Evans Atta Mills. Impressively, Akufo-Addo also had 107 Parliamentary Seats out of 230 Seats, while the NDC had 116 Seats after the 2008 general election.
Comparing the Electoral Defeats of Mills, Mahama and Dr. Bawumia as First Time Vice-Presidents
It is very authoritative and essentially profound to conclude that both Professor Atta Mills, and John Mahama PERFORMED BETTER than Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in presidential elections as sitting Vice-Presidents:
- Mills LOST the 2000 presidential election with votes difference of 881,139 between him and John Agyekum Kufuor.
- John Mahama WON the 2012 presidential election with a votes difference of 325, 863 between him and Nana Akufo-Addo.
- Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia LOST the 2024 presidential election with votes difference of 1, 714,179 between him and John Mahama.
Conclusion
The dwindling fortunes of NPP simultaneously at the Presidential level and Parliamentary level after the 2024 general election should be a major concern to all true members of the Elephant Family.
We cannot continue to whitewash the magnitude of 2024 defeat by comparing 2024 defeat to 1992 and 1996 defeats of NPP at the periods when UP Tradition has been in opposition for 20-24years.
Our 2024 defeat is a shared responsibility, and our fight for 2028 general election should also be a shared responsibility. However, we need to present the preferred choice of the majority of Ghanaian people.
…. Signed….
Razak Kojo Opoku (PhD)
Founding President of UP Tradition Institute
