“When I Was Giving Lectures And Campaigning In 2016, They Did Not Say I Was A Mamprusi, So What Has Changed? Why now?” – Bawumia

Former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed deep disappointment over what he described as tribal and religious bigotry being deployed against him in the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primary.

Speaking to party faithful at the 33rd Anniversary celebration of NPP-USA in New York on Saturday, August 23, 2025, Dr. Bawumia said it was “unfortunate” that some of his contenders and their campaign teams were resorting to divisive rhetoric in their bid to discredit him.

His comments follow a viral video of fellow aspirant Dr. Bryan Acheampong, who told delegates that the NPP risked losing Kusasi votes if Dr. Bawumia was chosen as flagbearer because he is Mamprusi.

“An opponent has said delegates should not vote for me because I am Mamprusi and that we will lose votes in the Kusasi areas. This is so unfortunate,” Dr. Bawumia lamented. He also accused another contender of pushing a “religion card” against him.

The former Vice President further referenced remarks by Asomah Cheremeh, a former minister and campaign coordinator for Kennedy Agyapong, who reportedly told delegates not to support Bawumia because his wife, Samira Bawumia, was “not a true Ghanaian.”

“Really? So how can we campaign to minorities in a general election? Just unbelievable,” Dr. Bawumia said, describing the comments as dangerous and signs of desperation.

He recalled his long service to the NPP and wondered why his background was now being weaponized against him.
“When I was defending the party in the Supreme Court in 2013, they did not say I was a Mamprusi, a northerner or a Muslim,” he said.
“When I was giving lectures and campaigning in 2016, they did not say I was a Mamprusi, a northerner or a Muslim. When my campaign in the north made the difference in our winning the 2020 election, they did not say I was a Mamprusi, a northerner or a Muslim. When Samira was campaigning the length and breadth of Ghana, they did not say she was not a true Ghanaian. So what has changed? Why now?”

Despite his disappointment, Dr. Bawumia struck a confident tone, insisting that tribal and religious politics have no place in the NPP.
“Let us be clear that these views do not represent the rank and file of the party,” he stressed. “The NPP has always been the party that embraces the largest diversity of our people. Under our tent, it has not mattered where you come from, what religion you practice, or your social background. The NPP will always triumph over tribal and religious bigots.”