Religion and Bawumia's NPP leadership bid

It will difficult for Bawumia in an NPP leadership race. Muslim aside, all those who got the privilege to lead the New Patriotic Party follow a certain unique pattern. With the exception of Albert Adu Boahene (the first NPP leader), all of them have contested for the leadership at least once and failed; Kufour in 1992 and Nana Addo in 1996.

The NPP is a Ghanaian traditional political party which follows the Ghanaian kingship style of selecting leaders. Everyone falls in line and leadership of party usually falls on the person next in line which makes Alan Kyrementeng's candidacy far more likely than Bawumia's. Yes, Buwumia has some cards in his favour. Since Nana Akuffo Addo started running with him as vice, he has become the lucid mouthpiece of the party at least on the matters of the economy. He is view by many people at least in the NPP as a leading light and an intellectual heavyweight. Also, in Bawumia's favour is the sitting President. Nana Akufo Addo could openly support Dr. Bawumia and use is influence in the party to ensure his success.

But that too has it own perils. As the current government becomes unpopular as do most governments when they stay in office for long, Bawumia may fall victim to the general unpopularity of the government as the protégé of the president. Alan Kyremengteng, thought a minister in the current government is viewed more as an NPP partisan than Nana Addo's right hand man. This makes it easy to run away from the president if the need be. Alan is also seen as the preferred Candidate of President Kufour when the latter was leaving office in 2009. This view of Alan could be fatal for Bawumia's efforts to lead the NPP as President Kufour is popular and more likeable in the NPP.

But the good thing for Bawumia is that he is young and brilliant and if he decides to continue in politics, he will one day lead the NPP even if he does not succeed the first time. I don't think that his religion will hamper his progress in the NPP and the country. There are of cause some in the Christo-Asafo wing of the NPP who will be uncomfortable with Bawumia's leadership. But in the years that he's been the vice president, he has shown himself not be a religious zealots. In fact, Bawumia and his wife both have done stuff that made conservative moslems uncomfortable. They have attended christian funerals and participated in Christian prayers. If Ghanaian christians are not comfortable with Bawumia and sister Samira, they will not be comfortable with any moslem in Ghana. The couple are mainstream Ghanaians and when the time comes for them to lead the country they will overcome all the religious challenges on their path.

Therefore, if Bawumia does not win the NPP leadership, it is not because he is a moslem. It is because factors and structure in the New Patriotic Party do not favour him as discussed above.