Did Akufo-Addo rig the game years in advance to ensure Bawumia's victory? That's the explosive claim being made, and it's got everyone talking. Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, the current CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), is throwing down the gauntlet, alleging that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo strategically engineered the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) internal processes to heavily favor Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the race for the party's flagbearer.
Tameklo argues that the NPP's decision to prioritize the flagbearer election before other internal party polls wasn't a mere coincidence. He suggests it was a calculated move, a masterstroke by Akufo-Addo to give Bawumia an almost insurmountable head start. Think of it like building a highway directly to Bawumia's campaign headquarters while everyone else is stuck on a dirt road.
Speaking on TV3's Key Points program on January 3, 2026, Tameklo didn't mince words. He asserted that Akufo-Addo began constructing this political infrastructure for Bawumia as early as 2023. This 'infrastructure' isn't just about physical buildings; it's about strategically aligning party structures, influencing key decision-makers, and shaping the narrative to position Bawumia as the natural successor. In essence, Tameklo believes Akufo-Addo laid the groundwork for Bawumia's dominance long before the official campaign even began.
"Former President Akufo-Addo is a crafty person. He built that infrastructure for Dr Bawumia in 2023," Tameklo stated emphatically. He believes the order in which the party held its internal elections was the key. But here's where it gets controversial... some argue that prioritizing the flagbearer election simply streamlines the process and allows the party to focus its resources on a single candidate sooner, giving them a better chance in the general election. Is it strategic planning, or is it manipulation?
Tameklo elaborates that once the NPP decided to hold the flagbearer election first, the outcome became almost predetermined. He paints Bawumia as the “establishment candidate,” backed by the party's existing power structures and benefiting from the momentum generated by Akufo-Addo's alleged groundwork. And this is the part most people miss: incumbency (or the perception of it) carries significant weight in any election. The party leadership's implicit or explicit support can be a game-changer.
"So, the very moment they agreed to having the flagbearer elections first was the day they surrendered the elections to Bawumia,” he declared. He views the sequence of events as a deliberate act that effectively handed the victory to Bawumia before the first vote was even cast.
For context, the NPP is scheduled to choose its flagbearer for the 2028 general elections on January 31, 2026. This election is particularly crucial as the party seeks to regain power after losing the 2024 polls. The stakes are incredibly high.
Now, let's consider a counterpoint: Could Akufo-Addo's actions simply be interpreted as strategic leadership aimed at ensuring the NPP puts forward its strongest candidate? Is it possible that he genuinely believed Bawumia was the best choice to lead the party back to power, and his actions were driven by a desire to secure that outcome? Or was it a calculated maneuver to install his preferred successor, regardless of the will of the party members?
What do you think? Was Akufo-Addo's influence a fair exercise of leadership, or an unfair manipulation of the system? Do you agree with Tameklo's assessment that the NPP's internal elections were effectively “surrendered” to Bawumia? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
