By: Evans Osei-Bonsu– A group of sitting Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have openly declared their support for former Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, ahead of the party’s presidential primaries slated for January 31.
The group, numbering sixty-five (65) MPs with two (2) choosing to remain anonymous, made the declaration on the premises of Parliament on Thursday, despite a directive from the party’s leadership cautioning sitting MPs and executives against open endorsements and campaigns for any of the five aspirants contesting for the party’s flagbearer slot.
Leading the group, the Member of Parliament for Mampong, Hon. Ampratwum Sarpong, said their decision was grounded in conviction, not coercion.
“We believe Dr. Bawumia is the right person to lead the NPP to victory in the next general elections. Our support for him is based on his track record, vision, and commitment to continuity and progress,” Hon. Ampratwum stated.
He emphasized that the decision to go public with their endorsement was entirely voluntary.
“Nobody has coerced or influenced us in any way. Each of us has taken this decision individually, out of our own conviction and belief in Dr. Bawumia’s leadership. We are doing this as volunteers and patriots,” he said.
Describing the group as the “Apostles of Dr. Bawumia’s campaign and agenda,” Hon. Ampratwum added that their collective stance reflects growing confidence within the parliamentary caucus in Dr. Bawumia’s ability to “continue the good works of the NPP government and ensure a decisive victory in 2028.”
The declaration comes a day after the party’s Acting National Chairman, Danquah Smith Botey, in an interview on Pure FM, warned that “no sitting MP or executive of the party is to openly declare support or campaign for any of the aspirants”; a decision he said was reached after the five aspirants met with former President, Akufo-Addo.
The move by the 65 MPs is therefore seen as a direct challenge to the party’s directive, raising questions about internal cohesion as the NPP approaches its much-anticipated presidential primaries.
