Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, prior to his nomination as vice presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party in the run up to 2008 general election was very much an unknown figure in Ghanaian politics.

In that election, the NPP lost in the run off as none of the candidates could secure 50+1 percent of the total valid vote cast. By then the presence of the now vice president of Ghana had not been felt. Perhaps he was warming up to take us all by storm.

Four years seemed very long but to the surprise of many, it passed at the speed of light. Campaigns and rallies were eminent and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia used these platforms to market himself and demonstrated to Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo and the NPP that they have not made a bad choice by showcasing his intellectual muscle.

The confidence of the elite members of the NPP grew and it was evident, when he was entrusted to lead the party in court when they were dissatisfied with the electoral process in the 2012 general elections .

Dr Bawumia yet again did not disappoint the NPP and neutral Ghanaians. He artistically answered questions during his cross examination at the supreme Court. He also managed to punch hole in the entire 2012 electoral process.

It was that time when Ghanaians realised the NPP had a gem in the shape of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. Although the NPP lost the case but they used the supreme Court hearing to sell themselves as law abiding citizens and that violence is not the solution if you are dissatisfied with the electoral results.

Bawumia became a house hold name and a force to reckon with in Ghanaians politics after the 2012 supreme Court hearing and the NPP realized that. They then gave Bawumia enough room to operate and it benefited the party enormously. He portrayed himself as the economic Messiah at the time the economy of Ghana seemed to be in shambles. His famous referral of the then President Mahama as "incompetent" went down with some Ghanaians.

Today, he is the most priced asset of the NPP just like the Queen in the game of Chess. His ability to pull votes from every part of Ghana adds value to his standings.

And if the wants to retain power beyond 2024, they should think of making Dr Mahamudu Bawumia their flag bearer. This will definitely go down with a lot of northeners as the first son of their land to lead a party in the forth republic

Source: .operanews