STATEMENT OF ACCEPTANCE OF NOMINATION AS RUNNING MATE TO NANA AKUFO-ADDO FOR 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 

BY 

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia 

OCTOBER 23, 2014 

I first of all want to thank God for making this day possible. I would also like to thank Nana Akufo-Addo for the confidence and faith reposed in me. No candidate in our political landscape has demonstrated this consistency and faith in his running mate and I am truly grateful once again for the opportunity to partner him to restore hope to the Ghanaian people and to deliver a competent and honest leadership which can alleviate the undeserved suffering of the Ghanaian people. 

My thanks also go to the former President, H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor for the support he has extended in the process of my nomination, not only today but since 2008 and his innumerable help and support since I was chosen to partner Nana Akufo-Addo for the first time in 2008. 

I thank the National Council for also demonstrating considerable confidence in my ability and for once again endorsing my choice as Running Mate. 

I thank the National Executive Committee and the entirety of the New Patriotic Party for their support, prayers and advice and pledge to continue to work with them and all concerned to support Nana Akufo-Addo and the Party in prosecuting an effective campaign and strengthening the party to ensure that we emerge victorious and are declared victorious come 2016, Insha Allah. 

Also importantly, I thank my family, friends and well-wishers for their tremendous support. 

I believe the 2016 election is about the record of the sitting government against the vision of Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP. In 2016, this government would have been in power for 8 years; the maximum any government has had in our 4th Republican history and Ghanaians can appropriately judge if in those 8 years, this government has performed competently, managed our resources honestly and if they have delivered on their promises. Ghanaians will judge if in the 8 years, compared to the resources that have been available to the country, this government has given us the required development to alleviate our hardships and make our lives better as a people. 

As Running Mate, I will be supporting the Presidential Candidate and the Party to challenge the NDC on its record and to show that ultimately Ghanaians will be better off under a Nana Akufo-Addo NPP led government. I would also work to consolidate the gains that the NPP has made in recent elections while also focusing on regaining the grounds we have lost in other parts of the country. 

I view politics as a call to service. It is about serving your country and delivering concrete results that improve on the welfare of your fellow citizens with selflessness, dedication, honesty, transparency and with the utmost integrity. This is my view of what politics is all about. It is an opportunity to make Ghana better for all! Not a better Ghana for a few. This is what Nana Akufo 

Addo’s vision is also about and I am privileged once again to partner him to serve Ghana if our party is given the mandate. 

I am in politics because like many Ghanaians of my generation and the youth in general I refuse to accept that what we are witnessing today in terms of our economic and political governance and the attendant marginalization, joblessness and suffering of so many of our people, is the best that Ghana can do. I refuse to accept this state of affairs for our great country. 

I thank everyone once again and also take this opportunity to call on everyone, the party, the media, all concerned Ghanaians to come on board this campaign and help us restore confidence in our governance. The good people of Ghana cannot afford four more years of being steered in the wrong direction. 

I call on all Ghanaians to support us to win the 2016 elections so we can collectively build a nation that we can all be proud of and a nation where every young person desirous of working will find the skills and employment with a decent wage; a Ghana where we do not only build a future for our youth, but also build our youth for the future; a Ghana where the basics like water, electricity and sanitation are available; a Ghana where our hard-working entrepreneurs can easily access capital; a Ghana where our young people will be well-educated and empowered to better compete in the global economy. 

This Ghana that we all desire for ourselves and for our children’s future, can only be attained when we manage our resources with vision, competence and integrity and this is the pact Nana Akufo-Addo is offering. 

Come on board this train and let us build a Ghana where we are certain that our taxes and resources will eventually find their way back to us in the form of quality and affordable education and healthcare, jobs, roads, reliable energy etc. and not find their way into the pockets of those managing the resources. 

Ghana obviously deserves better and can do better. 

Thank You and God Bless Our Homeland Ghana