The New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has dismissed suggestions that the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections was due to his religious background.
Speaking to party supporters at the NPP’s national headquarters on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Dr. Bawumia addressed what he described as propaganda aimed at linking the party’s loss to the fact that he is a Muslim.
He pointed to the election results, saying they showed no evidence that religion played a role in how people voted.
According to him, in many predominantly Christian areas, he performed better than some Christian parliamentary candidates on the party’s ticket.
“I was the only Muslim among ten candidates in the NPP primaries, and the party still chose me. The election results prove that religion was not a factor. If people were voting based on religion, I wouldn’t have performed better than Christian candidates in many areas,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia also praised the findings of a review committee led by Prof. Mike Ocquaye, which was tasked with analysing the party’s performance in the elections.
He said the report provided honest insights and would help shape future party strategies.
He encouraged party members to focus on unity and reform, noting that the defeat had more to do with campaign structure and internal party organisation than with religious or ethnic bias.
The NPP has pledged to act on the recommendations, especially in how its leadership and flagbearers are selected going forward.