Top officials within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) advocated for Ambrose Dery as the running mate for Nana Akufo-Addo during the 2008 elections, as revealed in a book titled The President Ghana Never Got by acclaimed investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni.
The book highlights that while Akufo-Addo favored Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the position, he encountered significant resistance from party leaders. Many believed that Dery, a seasoned politician, would better energize voters, whereas Bawumia, then a respected banker and economist, was perceived as lacking charisma and the ability to connect with the electorate.
Some party officials argued that if Akufo-Addo sought northern representation, Dery would be an ideal candidate. Despite this pressure, Akufo-Addo stood firm in his choice of Bawumia.
Following the party’s loss in the election, calls for a change in running mate intensified. However, Akufo-Addo reportedly expressed, “Ambrose Dery is a lawyer, and I am a lawyer. I want someone with an economics background to complement me. I will do the politics and he will do the technical things.” He was also concerned about shifting the blame for the loss onto Bawumia.
Akufo-Addo wanted to avoid any perception of unfairness, particularly since Bawumia, who was the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank at the time, had resigned from his position to accept the running mate role. Changing his selection afterward would have seemed unjust.
After the NPP lost the 2012 election and decided to contest the results in court, Dr. Bawumia was the only politician willing to testify, which was seen as a significant political risk. A cabinet minister noted, “No one else was willing to take that risk.”
Bawumia’s impressive performance in court, particularly against lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata, won him admiration from NPP officials and supporters alike. His sharp responses and ability to withstand rigorous cross-examination helped solidify his reputation within the party.
By the time Akufo-Addo announced his candidacy for the 2016 elections, there was unanimous support within the NPP for Dr. Bawumia as his running mate, a shift in sentiment that underscored Bawumia’s growing stature and acceptance within the party.
