‘My journey from running mate to former Vice President is by God’s divine will’ — Bawumia

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has reflected on his remarkable political journey, saying his rise from a running mate to becoming Ghana’s Vice President — and eventually a former Vice President — was guided by the divine will of Allah.

Dr Bawumia made the remarks while calling on Ghanaians to remain tolerant, peaceful and submissive to God’s will, stressing that political positions and personal fortunes are ultimately in the hands of the Almighty.

From running mate to Vice President

Bawumia’s political journey has been one of the most significant in Ghana’s recent political history.

He first became the running mate to then-NPP presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ahead of the 2008 general election.

Although the NPP lost that election, the partnership continued into the 2012 and 2016 elections.

The breakthrough finally came in 2016 when Akufo-Addo and Bawumia defeated the John Mahama-led NDC, paving the way for Bawumia to become Vice President in January 2017.

Eight years at the Jubilee House

Bawumia subsequently served as Vice President for two terms under the Akufo-Addo administration.

He later became the NPP’s presidential candidate for the 2024 general election, taking on then-incumbent President John Dramani Mahama.

The NPP, however, lost the election, bringing Bawumia’s tenure as Vice President to an end.

Reflecting on that journey, he said the twists and turns of his political career should ultimately be understood as part of God’s plan.

‘It is by divine will’

For Bawumia, the experience is a reminder that political power is temporary and that human beings should remain humble regardless of the positions they occupy.

His message was therefore not simply about his own political career but about accepting life’s outcomes with faith and patience.

The former Vice President urged Ghanaians to maintain religious tolerance and focus on building a peaceful and united country.

A message with 2028 in the background

Bawumia’s comments come as political attention increasingly turns toward the next general election and the NPP’s preparations for 2028.

Although the former Vice President has not been elected as the NPP’s 2028 presidential candidate, his name remains central to discussions about the party’s future.

His latest reflection therefore carries an unmistakable political undertone: his journey has already taken unexpected turns, and he remains convinced that the next chapter will also unfold according to God’s will.

Politics, power and destiny

From losing presidential elections as a running mate to eventually becoming Vice President, then becoming the NPP’s presidential candidate and returning to life as a former Vice President, Bawumia has experienced dramatic changes in political fortune.

His message is that such changes should not be viewed solely through the lens of political victory or defeat.

For Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the journey from running mate to Vice President and now former Vice President was never entirely in his own hands — it was, as he puts it, part of God’s divine will.