Dr. Jonathan Asante Okyere, a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) believes the endorsement of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia by former President John Agyekum Kufuor in the build up to the elections was counterproductive.
Speaking during an interview on Starr FM, Dr. Okyere expressed surprise and disappointment over the former president’s recent political involvement.
“President Kufuor, I think, has run his race; he’s tired,” he said, his tone laced with a mix of respect and frustration.
“I was surprised that every now and then, he is hauled into partisan activities. Until recently, he had been widely respected across the political divide, including the NDC, NPP, and even other smaller parties.”
Kufuor, revered for his statesmanlike demeanour and broad appeal, had earlier endorsed Dr. Bawumia, describing him as the best candidate to lead the NPP. While many saw this as a boost for Bawumia’s campaign, Dr. Okyere questioned the motives behind it.
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“He voiced the view that Dr. Bawumia is the best, but I realized it was more of a partisan influence rather than a statesmanlike approach,” he remarked.
The lecturer further suggested that the endorsement was part of a calculated effort to shore up support for Bawumia within the Ashanti Region, a key NPP stronghold.
According to him, the Ashanti support base felt neglected by the party’s leadership, and Kufuor’s involvement was a strategy to appease disgruntled voters.
“The journey was too tough for Bawumia, and they needed to convince the Ashanti support base to come on board,” he revealed.
“But this approach might have done more harm than good. The Ashanti support base has become increasingly disillusioned with the leadership, and that could be the main cause of the NPP’s challenges.”
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