Ken Agyapong, crowds, human touch: 4 big wins from Bawumia's Ashanti Regional campaign tour

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia recently completed a three-day tour of the Ashanti Region.

The region is critical to the New Patriotic Party's electoral successes and so the tour was a big deal from the get-go. It appeared a well planned visit that ensured that the NPP flagbearer met almost all interest parties before leaving the region.

"My tour of the Ashanti Region marked the end of the first phase of my community engagements. I was overwhelmed by the love and unique affection shown by the people of Ashanti.

"I am grateful to Otumfuo, our Chiefs, Queen Mothers, the business community, youth, and all those who showed up to make the tour a successful one. God bless you all," Bawumia said in his final social media post on the tour.

GhanaWeb in this news analysis piece looks at four big wins Bawumia chalked with the tour

Getting Kennedy Agyapong on board

The appearance of Kennedy Agyapong on the campaign trail in the Ashanti Region has been seen as a big win for Bawumia, perhaps the biggest.

Since defeating Agyapong last year to the NPP flagbearer race, the Assin North MP had almost checked out of party politics especially because he was also not seeking another term in Parliament.

With his participation on the campaign, some analysts have pointed to a big boost for the NPP campaign in its stronghold and also in the Central Region where Agyapong's constituency is located.

Mammoth crowds and open display of support

Numbers are a crucial part of politics and campaign crowds are often seen as a key measure of candidate popularity.

Even outside the Ashanti Region, Bawumia was pulling sizeable crowds but the numbers seen in the region - hundreds of thousands in places like Kejetia and Adum - point anecdotally to readiness of the region to back the Bawumia ticket come 2024.

Human touch

Bawumia's campaign strategy of randomly engaging with people in the streets and walking into homes to interact with residents has been likened in some quarters to how John Evans Atta Mills prosecuted the 2008 campaign that saw him get elected on his third try.

Videos showing ecstatic residents and in the case of one video, an emotional moment with one old lady have trended.

The video of Bawumia playing ludo with some supporters and his visit to an ailing veteran musician also added some boost to the human face that has come to be associated with the campaign.

Consistency in messaging and Manhyia's tacit support:

One of Bawumia's first meeting was with members of the regional House of Chiefs with the Mamponghene, who has been an open admirer of the Vice President emphasizing a historic treat that members accorded the veep.

The Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, who is the second in command in Asanteman, expressed the House's high regard for Dr. Bawumia.

"As you can see from left to right, we are gathered here not solely by the members, but also by our serious-minded, assiduous queen mothers, who have joined us to extend the golden handshake of Otumfuo to welcome you and your entourage."

"Your Excellency, let me state on record that you're the first external dignitary and a non-member of the house, and a non-member of Asanteman, that Nananom, especially some of the Queen mothers, were here before 9 o'clock (a.m.). This shows the high esteem in which we hold you."

His meeting with the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and comments from there have been seen as a further boost for his tour.

Other legs like consistency in messaging relative to his meetings with business groups, traders, the clergy and youth at a Youth Connect event, points to a high momentum in his presidential pursuit and the NPP's Breaking The Eight agenda.

SARA