Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer in the 2024 elections, has confidently asserted that the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) early struggles in government foreshadow their defeat and pave the way for a strong NPP return in the **2028 elections**. This statement comes amidst growing concerns over the NDC’s ability to fulfill its promises, creating a volatile political landscape in **Ghana politics**. The focus remains on whether **Bawumia predicts** accurately the trajectory of power in the coming years, based on the current **NDC struggles**.

Delivered at the Young Executive Forum (YEF) in London, Bawumia’s remarks highlight what he perceives as failures of the current administration, capitalizing on public sentiment regarding unfulfilled pledges. This sets the stage for an intense political showdown as the NPP aims to regain power. “I think that the NDC in government is being exposed in just five months, and by the time they hit four years, I think you will see a big clamour for the NPP to come back into office,” Bawumia stated, setting a confident tone for his party’s future prospects.

Bawumia’s Critique of NDC’s Unfulfilled Promises

A central theme in **Bawumia’s** address was the accusation that the NDC made false promises regarding reducing the cost of living and essential goods. He argued that instead of prices decreasing, they are, in fact, rising, directly contradicting their campaign pledges to the Ghanaian populace.

“They told so many lies in opposition…Prices are rather going up, whether you are looking at cement or other things. They are not coming down,” Bawumia declared. This sentiment reflects a broader concern among some Ghanaians who feel misled by the NDC’s initial promises. The NPP seeks to capitalize on this perceived betrayal as they gear up for future electoral contests.

Another key area of contention is the cocoa price controversy. **Bawumia** highlighted the NDC’s promise to significantly raise cocoa prices, a pledge he now characterizes as a deception. He argues that farmers who voted based on this promise are now disillusioned as the NDC admits to having “wrong information.”

“The cocoa farmers were very excited and voted for them, but today they are saying that they had wrong information, so they are not going to increase the cocoa price,” Bawumia stated, indicating a sense of betrayal among cocoa farmers, a vital voting bloc in Ghana.

Further fueling the criticism is the NDC’s perceived failure to address illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. **Bawumia** asserted that despite promises to stop illegal mining, the practice is, in fact, increasing, leading to further environmental destruction. “They said that when they come, galamsey will be stopped. Now they’ve come, and galamsey is rather increasing… The environment is getting more destroyed,” he said. The environment continues to be a pressing issue for many Ghanaians.

Education and the Teacher Licensure Exam

**Bawumia** also criticized the NDC’s broken promise to abolish teacher licensure exams. He contends that teachers who voted for the NDC based on this promise are now facing disappointment. “They told teachers that once they get into office, the teacher licensure exams… will be abolished… Today, they are telling them that they won’t touch the licensure exam again.” This broken promise further fuels the narrative of unfulfilled pledges.

The 24-Hour Economy Promise and the Reality of ‘Dumsor’

**Bawumia** dismissed the NDC’s flagship 24-hour economy promise as a “joke.” He noted its absence from the NDC’s budget, signaling its abandonment. “Of course, we all knew it was a joke…Today, it’s completely missing in their policy. It didn’t appear in their budget…” Bawumia’s comments reflect his dismissive stance on the promise’s feasibility.

Furthermore, **Bawumia** connected the NDC’s governance with the resurgence of power outages (Dumsor). He claimed the NPP warned Ghanaians about this correlation, which has now been proven true. “We warned Ghanaians that dumsor and NDC work together… Ghanaians didn’t listen, but we have basically been proven right. Dumsor is pretty bad, and it’s likely to get worse from what we can see.” This claim seeks to link the NDC with a period of darkness and economic stagnation.

Bawumia’s Confidence in NPP’s 2028 Victory

**Bawumia** cited historical trends where first-time presidential candidates in Ghana often face challenges. He suggested that the NPP’s experience will give them an advantage in the **2028 elections**. “If you look at our political history, it is usually very difficult for a first-time presidential candidate to win an election in Ghana… There’s a sense that in 2028, NDC is going to bring a new candidate… I believe we will have a very big advantage.”

He also expressed his belief that President Akufo-Addo’s administration will be appreciated in retrospect, similar to how Kufuor’s presidency is now viewed. “I believe that posterity will be kind to Nana Akufo-Addo and the government of the NPP.” This comment hints at the importance of legacies in **Ghana politics**.

Acknowledging Past Mistakes and Promising Improvement

Despite his criticisms of the NDC, **Bawumia** admitted to the NPP’s past failings and apologized for not getting everything right. He assured supporters that lessons have been learned and that the NPP will do better if given another opportunity. “We did not get everything right… I apologise to all of you for us not getting the things right that we should have gotten… I believe that if, by the grace of God, we have another opportunity… we will get many things right.”

Dr. **Bawumia’s** critique of the NDC’s early performance focuses on unfulfilled promises and economic challenges, fueling his confidence in an NPP comeback in the **2028 elections**. His statements highlight key issues such as rising costs, cocoa prices, illegal mining, and the return of ‘Dumsor.’

As the political landscape evolves, **Bawumia** rallies his supporters, urging enthusiasm and support for the NPP’s future endeavors. “We should be very, very enthusiastic. I want to count on all of your support.” Whether **Bawumia predicts** a correct assessment of the political atmosphere remains to be seen. The **NDC struggles** in their early months will be a key indicator of their future success in **Ghana politics**.