The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has defended former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s decision to concede defeat in the 2024 general election, describing it as an act of courage, integrity and respect for Ghana’s democracy.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, the former Information Minister said the decision was not taken unilaterally by Dr. Bawumia but followed extensive consultations with the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“After our discussions, the party was of the view that we should concede. I can also tell you that Dr Bawumia believed it was the right thing to do,” he said.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah stressed that conceding defeat was a collective decision based on collated results available to the party and not a personal choice by the 2024 Presidential Candidate.
“The decision to concede was not Dr Bawumia’s sole decision,” he stated.
He criticised politicians who refuse to accept electoral defeat, describing such conduct as cowardly.
“It is only a coward who, after losing an election, has no courage to stand before supporters to say, ‘we went for the election and we didn’t win, but we live to fight another day,’ and instead claims they were cheated,” he said.
According to him, true leadership lies in honesty and accountability.
“The courageous person is the one who can stand in front of the world and accept that indeed they didn’t win and concede defeat,” he added.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah explained that once the party’s leadership had access to all the collated results on the morning after the election, it would have been irresponsible and a betrayal of trust to pretend ignorance or mislead supporters.
“It would have been irresponsible to keep quiet and lie to supporters when we knew exactly what the results said,” he noted.
Following the 2024 general election, Dr Bawumia’s decision to concede defeat to NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama attracted mixed reactions, with some members of the NPP describing the move as premature.
However, Mr Oppong Nkrumah dismissed such criticisms, insisting that Dr Bawumia’s actions demonstrated strength and statesmanship.
“Dr Bawumia will never do that, and that’s why he is formidable. It shows that if he becomes President, he will do right by all manner of persons,” he said.
He recounted how, after completing his own declaration at his constituency, he went straight to Dr Bawumia’s residence for a meeting, despite pressure from some quarters not to concede.
“I saw a very formidable leader, even when people were telling us not to concede. I had all the data,” he revealed.
He said the former Vice President’s decision was driven by a deep sense of responsibility to Ghana’s democracy, rather than personal or partisan interest.
“We have a responsibility to the democracy of this country. It wasn’t about his personal gain. That’s the kind of leader we need,” he stated.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah also cited Dr Bawumia’s principled stance during Cabinet discussions on the COVID-19 levy, noting that although he opposed it, he respected the collective decision of government.
“He raised objections based on principle, but Cabinet decided otherwise, and he respected that,” he said.
He urged critics to see Dr Bawumia’s concession as a mark of maturity and fidelity to democratic values.
“If someone says his concession shows weakness, tell them we need a leader who will show fidelity to Ghana’s democracy, not one who will cause confusion,” he stressed.
He further argued that Dr Bawumia’s guiding principle was to uphold democracy and remain truthful to facts.
“He believed in being truthful to the facts as they are,” he added.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah contrasted this with past elections, claiming that former President John Dramani Mahama did not formally concede defeat after the 2016 elections.
“From 2016 till now, President Mahama never conceded that election. Even the congratulatory message he was supposed to give to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo never came,” he claimed.
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