FEATURE- By: Eric Atsu Senyo || Chicago-USA
Politics often celebrates the voice at the podium and forgets the mind in the engine room. Yet, every decisive victory is shaped not only by the candidate on the ballot, but by the strategists who stand firmly behind the scenes, absorbing the blows, steadying the course, and seeing far beyond the noise of the moment. In Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s historic second election as the 2028 flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), one such figure stands tall, though characteristically silent: Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
Dr. Bawumia’s re-election did not come easy. The contest was fiercely competitive, and the stakes could not have been higher. His main opponent, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a long-time and influential party stalwart, served in Parliament for 24 years representing Assin Central Constituency. He was widely known for his grassroots appeal, financial strength, and bold political posture. Many believed the contest would split the party along dangerous lines.
At a time when uncertainty reigned within the party, and voices grew louder calling for a “fresh face” ahead of the 2028 general elections, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu chose conviction over convenience. Accusations, allegations, and calculated attempts were made to weaken Dr. Bawumia’s candidacy. Yet, where many saw risk, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu saw promise. Where others hesitated, he stood firm.
I recall vividly an interview I conducted with him in his office in Parliament in 2023, ahead of the party’s presidential primaries. With calm certainty, he told me he would do everything within his power to ensure Dr. Bawumia’s victory. It was not empty rhetoric. He spoke thoughtfully about the future of the NPP and the need to confront, head-on, the long-standing narrative of the party as an “Akan party.” He believed that Dr. Bawumia’s candidacy was not just about winning an internal election, but about redefining the party’s national character.
True to his word, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu mobilized extensively across Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions, rallying MPs, delegates, and opinion leaders. His influence, credibility, and unmatched institutional knowledge proved decisive. The outcome was emphatic: Dr. Bawumia won the 2023 primaries convincingly, becoming the first non-Akan presidential flag bearer in the history of the NPP.
Fast-forward to 2026, and the political temperature had risen even further. Once again, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu came under sustained attacks from political opponents of Dr. Bawumia. Allegations were made, motives questioned, and his integrity challenged. True to his long-held character, he did not dignify the noise with a response. He stayed focused on the mission.
Undoubtedly, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu remains the longest-serving Member of Parliament in the NPP and one of the most experienced parliamentarians in Ghana’s history. His parliamentary journey has earned him international respect, including senior leadership roles within the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) at the international level. Yet, accolades have never distracted him from service.
When he was appointed National Coordinator of the Bawumia Campaign, he took on the role with characteristic discipline and quiet intensity. He traversed all 276 constituencies, enduring sleepless nights, relentless travel, and enormous pressure. He became a constant presence on television and radio platforms, articulating Dr. Bawumia’s vision with clarity and persuasion. There was hardly a place Dr. Bawumia went without Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu ensuring the machinery worked seamlessly behind the scenes engineering movements, mobilizing resources, aligning stakeholders.
Dr. Bawumia’s victory last Saturday has been met with widespread celebration, and rightly so. But as a journalist who has worked in Parliament and observed power both in speech and in silence, I believe it is equally important to celebrate the maestro behind the curtain.
Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu saw far when others saw fog. He whipped MPs into alignment, mobilized the Ashanti and allied regions with strategic precision, and remained unwaveringly loyal at moments when loyalty was costly. His commitment, discipline, and belief in Dr. Bawumia never wavered.
Today, I celebrate not just a political victory, but a lesson in leadership.
Thank you, OKMB. You are an asset to the New Patriotic Party, a pillar of Ghana’s parliamentary democracy, and a rare example of loyalty anchored in principle. May your dedication continue to inspire. God bless you for your service and for standing firm when it mattered most.
Source: Eric Atsu Senyo || Chicago-USA
