Former Vice President and 2024 NPP flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has thrown down the gauntlet to his rivals in the party's upcoming leadership race, urging them to compete on the basis of vision, policies and proven achievements rather than divisive rhetoric.

Addressing the NPP New York 33rd Anniversary celebration on Sunday, August 24, Dr Bawumia said the future of the party and Ghana required leadership defined by integrity and competence, not tribal or religious propaganda. "If you want to contest me, come with a vision, come with your ideas, come with your track record, come with your integrity and let us decide," he told the gathering.

He dismissed attempts to discredit him on the basis of his northern roots or Islamic faith, describing such propaganda as false, dangerous and unworthy of the NPP's democratic tradition.

Dr Bawumia reminded his critics that he had served the party faithfully through critical moments, including defending the NPP in court during the 2013 election petition, campaigning tirelessly for its victories in 2016 and 2020, and advancing major national reforms such as digitalisation.