The New Patriotic Party (NPP), reeling from its 2024 electoral defeat against the National Democratic Congress (NDC), embarked on a “Thank You Tour” commencing April 23, 2025. This initiative, themed “In All Things, Give Thanks to God,” ostensibly aimed to express gratitude to party loyalists and consolidate unity within the grassroots across all sixteen regions of the country. The tour’s itinerary included a significant three-day event in the politically crucial Ashanti Region, culminating in the Central Region on June 4, 2025. However, this seemingly unifying gesture has sparked internal dissent, raising concerns about its true purpose and potential implications for the party’s future leadership.
A dissenting voice within the NPP, Citizen Eye Ghana, has sharply criticized the Thank You Tour, alleging it serves as a thinly veiled campaign platform for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, rather than a genuine expression of gratitude to party supporters. The group contends that the tour’s structure and execution effectively endorse Dr. Bawumia as the presumptive presidential candidate for the next election cycle, despite the absence of an official nomination process. This perceived preemptive coronation, they argue, disregards other potential aspirants who have made substantial contributions to the NPP, undermining the principles of fairness and democratic competition within the party.
Citizen Eye Ghana’s primary concern revolves around the utilization of party resources, including official letterheads, platforms, and organizational structures, to bolster Dr. Bawumia’s visibility. This preferential treatment, according to the group, constitutes an unfair advantage and a breach of democratic processes. They argue that by implicitly promoting a single candidate before the official nomination process, the party leadership is stifling internal competition and potentially alienating other capable individuals who could lead the NPP in the future. This perceived manipulation of party machinery has ignited a debate about the transparency and integrity of the leadership’s actions.
The controversy surrounding the Thank You Tour underscores the delicate balance between expressing gratitude to supporters after an electoral defeat and navigating the complexities of internal party politics. While the NPP leadership may frame the tour as a gesture of appreciation and a step towards rebuilding party unity, the optics of Dr. Bawumia’s prominent role have fueled suspicions of a calculated strategy to position him as the frontrunner for the next presidential race. This perceived maneuvering has raised questions about the party’s commitment to a fair and transparent selection process for its future leader.
The accusations leveled by Citizen Eye Ghana against the NPP leadership highlight a deeper concern about the potential erosion of democratic principles within the party. By seemingly favoring one candidate over others, the leadership risks creating factions and resentment within the ranks. This internal division could further weaken the NPP’s ability to regroup and effectively challenge the NDC in future elections. The emphasis on Dr. Bawumia also ignores the contributions and aspirations of other potential candidates, whose experience and perspectives could be crucial for the party’s revival.
The Thank You Tour, initially conceived as a unifying initiative, has inadvertently exposed underlying tensions and anxieties within the NPP. The controversy surrounding Dr. Bawumia’s prominent role underscores the challenges the party faces in navigating its post-election recovery while simultaneously preparing for future leadership transitions. The accusations of favoritism and manipulation of party resources raise fundamental questions about the NPP’s commitment to democratic principles and its capacity to foster a truly inclusive and competitive environment for aspiring leaders. The resolution of this internal conflict will be crucial for the party’s ability to rebuild its strength and regain public trust in the lead-up to the next election cycle.
