The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has disclosed that his campaign team advised against conceding defeat in the December 7 election.
Despite their reservations, Dr. Bawumia chose to acknowledge the outcome promptly, prioritizing the peace and stability of the nation.
In a gathering with party supporters at his residence on December 26, Dr. Bawumia explained that his decision to concede was guided by his commitment to upholding Ghana’s democratic principles. “The stability of Ghana must always come first,” he emphasized.
Dr. Bawumia announced his concession on December 8, before the Electoral Commission officially declared the results.
The Commission later announced John Dramani Mahama as the winner, securing 56.55% of the valid votes cast.
The NPP flagbearer revealed that his team had urged him to wait for the Electoral Commission’s official pronouncement, citing concerns about the accuracy of the data.
However, Dr. Bawumia decided to take a proactive approach, recognizing that delaying his concession could lead to increased tension and potential violence.
“So, even though the Electoral Commission had not yet pronounced [the winner], in fact, some of my people in my team were saying, you can’t go out to concede, we don’t know if all this data is right, let’s wait. But I said, look, we know this data is right from our own system,” Dr. Bawumia explained.
“You know, so if you wait, you build up more tension and violence could come because people would think we are trying to rig the election because that is the message that was coming, that we were trying to rig the election,” he added.
Dr. Bawumia also noted that his decision to concede marked a historic first, stating, “But nobody has ever conceded an election without the EC coming out to pronounce, and I said there is a first time for everything.”
Dr. Bawumia urged his supporters to remain committed to the party’s ideals and work towards a stronger, more united Ghana.
He thanked them for their unwavering dedication throughout the campaign, saying, “I thank you for your support, I thank you for your dedication, and I urge you to continue to work towards a stronger and more united Ghana.”