Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has publicly declared his preference for former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into the 2028 general elections.

In a post he shared on his X account on June 22, 2025, Manasseh stated that he is not politically neutral and has a vested interest in who governs the country.

He added that he considers himself a Ghanaian first before his career as a journalist.

“I’m not politically neutral. I wrote an article to that effect in 2014. It’s a Google search away.

“I am a citizen of Ghana, first and foremost, before being a journalist. I vote and I have an interest in who becomes my president,” he noted.

Reflecting on his voting history, Manasseh revealed that he voted for John Dramani Mahama in 2012, switched to Nana Akufo-Addo in 2016, and chose not to vote in the 2024 election.

In his view, an NPP victory in 2024 would have sent “a dangerous signal” that a government could rule with impunity and still be retained.

Looking ahead to 2028, Manasseh emphasised the importance of leadership within both the NPP and NDC.

He stated that while Mahama is unlikely to contest again, the NDC’s future leadership will heavily influence his voting decision.

For the NPP, however, he believes Dr Bawumia stands out among the candidates vying for the party’s flagbearership.

“Dr Bawumia may not be the best in the entire NPP as a party but from the list of options ready to lead, he stands out by miles,” Manasseh stated, naming Kwabena Agyei Agyepong as his second choice.

He also stressed that Bawumia’s involvement in the previous government, which he described as a failed regime, should not disqualify him, as others in the race were equally involved.

He further stressed the need for a unifying figure to restore stability in the party: “At a period of heightened acrimony and division threatening the party’s chances at returning to power, the party needs a unifying figure and I see that in Bawumia.”

Drawing comparisons with former presidents who suffered early electoral defeats before winning power such as John Agyekum Kufuor, John Evans Atta Mills, Nana Akufo-Addo, and John Mahama, he noted that Bawumia’s loss in 2024 does not spell the end of his political career.

Manasseh emphasised that for Ghana’s democracy to thrive, both the NDC and NPP must put forward credible candidates.

“It is in the interest of our democracy and the well-being of Ghanaians that both parties put their best foot forward,” he stated.

He concluded that his future vote will depend on how both parties perform in the coming years, but as it stands, Bawumia is the candidate most likely to earn his vote should the NDC fail to inspire confidence with its leadership and direction.