Bawumia not responsible for NPP's Upper East 2024 loss – Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Former Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has defended Dr Mahamudu Bawumia against claims that he is responsible for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) poor electoral performance in the Upper East Region.

Speaking on OTEC FM’s afternoon programme Dwabrem, hosted by Prince Nii Ardey, popularly known as Dr Cash, on Wednesday, January 29, 2026, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu described as baseless attempts to blame Dr Bawumia for the party’s inability to win parliamentary seats in Bawku.

He noted that the Bawku area has historically been a difficult terrain for the NPP, stressing that the party has consistently struggled to secure votes in the area.

“The Upper East Region, particularly Bawku and its environs, has never been the NPP’s stronghold. Both former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo failed to significantly improve the party’s performance there,” he said.

Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu argued that the party’s poor showing in the 2024 general elections cannot be attributed to Dr Bawumia.

“President Kufuor, in 2004, lost seats under Nana Akufo-Addo, and the NPP won no seats there. So if you look at the history, the party itself has always struggled to win votes in that area. Blaming Dr Bawumia is therefore completely wrong,” he added.

He further described Dr Bawumia as the best candidate for the NPP and urged party delegates to support him in the upcoming flagbearer contest.