Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu confident in Bawumia’s 2028 presidential prospects

Former Majority Leader of Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has expressed optimism that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia could stage a political comeback and win Ghana’s presidency in 2028.

Speaking on JoyNews AM on February 16, he drew parallels with past leaders who rebounded from electoral setbacks. He cited former President John Mahama, who lost an election by over one million votes but later returned to power, and former President John Kufuor, who, after securing 59 percent of the vote, went on to win in a subsequent contest. “As a sitting president, losing an election by over one million votes… he survived. He clawed back the presidency,” he said, underscoring that political reversals are not necessarily permanent.

Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained that the 2028 election would be judged against three constitutional benchmarks: safeguarding liberties and the rule of law, ensuring equal opportunities for citizens, and managing the economy to deliver prosperity. He stressed that voters would weigh Bawumia’s vision against the record of the current administration and the alternative offered by the opposition.

“We are looking at the vision of Bawumia against the vision espoused by the current administration. The sheer competence of Bawumia against whoever they would present… the humility and integrity of the person against that of Bawumia,” he said. He added that the assessment would extend to qualities such as experience, track record, ingenuity, character, humility, and integrity. “These are the indices, the asset tests that we are going to use on Bawumia vis-à-vis whoever the NDC would be presenting,” he noted.

While acknowledging that three years is a long time in politics, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu maintained confidence in Bawumia’s prospects. “Looking at those people that people are talking about today, I would place any one of them on the same scale as Bawumia. I think Bawumia will have the head start,” he said.

The remarks add to ongoing discussions about Ghana’s political future, with attention already turning to potential candidates for the 2028 presidential race.