Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer for the 2028 presidential election, says the party intends to approach the next general election with costed, practical and workable policy proposals rather than promises that may prove difficult to implement.
Dr Bawumia made the remarks during a national thanksgiving service at the Pentecost Church in Sunyani on Sunday, October 18, 2026, following the party’s National Delegates Conference.
Addressing the congregation, the former Vice-President emphasised that the NPP was preparing to present policy ideas that could be realistically implemented if the party returns to power in 2028.
“We’re going into 2028 elections with ideas, costed ideas, practical ideas, workable ideas—not just any promises like some people did in 2024 that they’re struggling to implement today,” he stated.
His comments appeared to be directed at the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), whose campaign promises in the 2024 general election he suggested were proving difficult to fulfil.
Bawumia Emphasises Costed Policies
The NPP flagbearer's remarks highlight the importance he says his party intends to place on the feasibility and financial implications of its policy proposals ahead of the 2028 elections.
Costed policies generally involve estimating the financial resources required to implement a proposed programme and identifying how the necessary funding would be obtained.
Practical and workable proposals, meanwhile, require consideration of implementation challenges, institutional capacity, timelines and the expected impact on citizens.
Dr Bawumia's statement suggests that the NPP wants its next election campaign to focus on proposals that can be translated into concrete government programmes rather than commitments made without sufficient consideration of their implementation requirements.
However, the specific policies he was referring to at the thanksgiving service were not detailed in the quoted remarks.
Comments Come as NPP Prepares for 2028
The thanksgiving service formed part of the NPP's post-conference activities following its National Delegates Conference held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on October 3, 2026.
The conference was organised to elect national executives who will help direct the party's affairs as it prepares for the 2028 general election.
Dr Bawumia had earlier urged party members to put their differences aside following the internal elections and work together towards rebuilding the party.
In his address to delegates in Kumasi, he also indicated that preparations for a future NPP government should begin before the election campaign reaches its peak.
The party's preparations include developing policy proposals and engaging stakeholders as it considers the lessons from its defeat in the 2024 presidential election.
These preparations are taking place as the NPP seeks to regain public confidence and position itself as an alternative to the NDC administration.
A Focus on Government Promises and Implementation
Dr Bawumia's latest remarks also bring attention to a recurring issue in Ghanaian politics: the relationship between campaign promises and actual policy implementation.
During election campaigns, political parties often announce programmes intended to address unemployment, economic challenges, infrastructure deficits, healthcare delivery and other national concerns.
The implementation of these proposals, however, depends on factors such as available revenue, expenditure priorities, economic conditions and the capacity of public institutions.
By stressing the need for costed and workable ideas, Dr Bawumia has placed policy feasibility at the centre of his stated approach to the 2028 elections.
His criticism of promises made during the 2024 campaign also signals that the NPP intends to scrutinise the governing party's record on fulfilling its commitments as the next election approaches.
Nevertheless, the effectiveness of the NPP's proposed approach will ultimately depend on the substance of the policies it presents, the credibility of its funding plans and how clearly it explains the practical steps required to implement them.
As political parties prepare for the 2028 polls, voters will have the opportunity to examine their respective proposals, assess their financial implications and compare them with the parties' records in government.
For now, Dr Bawumia's message is that the NPP intends to enter the next election campaign with what he describes as costed, practical and workable ideas.
Source: Remarks by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia at the National Thanksgiving Service at the Pentecost Church in Sunyani, following the NPP National Delegates Conference.
