By Adnan Adams Mohammed
Following a high-stakes internal contest that has tested the seams of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), former Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Oquaye has issued a clarion call for reconciliation. Speaking shortly after Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was declared the winner of the 2026 NPP presidential primary, Prof. Oquaye emphasized that the road to the 2028 general elections requires a “brotherly feeling” that can only be forged through humility and mutual respect.
Addressing journalists at his Haatso residence on Sunday, February 1, 2026, the veteran statesman and Chairman of the NPP Presidential Election Committee urged the Vice President to resist the urge for triumphalism and instead focus on mending the fractured relationships within the elephant family.
A Call for Magnanimity
Prof. Oquaye was explicit in his advice to the Bawumia camp: victory should not be a license for mockery.
“The victor must show magnanimity and respect, and the victor must tell his people to be careful in pronouncements at a time like this so that it does not look as if some people are being teased and mocked,” he stated.
He warned that “creeping disregard” between supporters of different candidates has historically cost the NPP dearly, citing instances where aggrieved members withdrew their loyalty, leading to electoral losses.
Shutting the Door on Tribalism
One of the most stinging portions of the Professor’s address targeted the use of ethnic and religious rhetoric during the campaign. In a primary that featured heavyweights like Kennedy Agyapong, Bryan Acheampong, and Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the discourse occasionally veered into tribal territory a move Prof. Oquaye says Ghanaians have flatly rejected.
“Some people wanted to introduce ethnicity into this contest, but the people of Ghana have shown clearly that they are not interested in tribal dynamics. Let those people shut their mouths forever because we do not need it in this country,” he declared.
The Responsibility of the Vanquished
The counsel was not reserved solely for the winner. Prof. Oquaye urged the four unsuccessful contestants to reciprocate the olive branch and avoid an “opposition attitude” within their own party.
The Road to 2028: Success Factors Identified by Prof. Oquaye
● Magnanimity: Avoiding the teasing or mocking of losing camps.
● Reciprocity: Defeated aspirants must accept the results in good faith.
● Neutrality: The Council of Elders must actively “patch” lingering grievances.
● Identity: Moving away from tribal/religious labels to focus on national competence.
Looking Ahead: Bawumia’s Chances
Despite the internal bruises, Prof. Oquaye expressed confidence in Dr. Bawumia’s ability to “break the eight” (and the cycle) in 2028. He cited the Vice President’s track record of innovation and economic contributions as his strongest currency on the national stage.
“We must just accept this result in good faith, as it really reflects the nature of our people… to enable us to work together as a party to win the next election,” he concluded.
