Former Vice President and 2028 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called for the ideals of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) to serve as the guiding principles of Ghana’s democracy, stressing that citizens must enjoy freedom, justice and equal opportunity without fear or persecution.
Delivering a speech on his behalf during the UGCC Founding Day commemoration in Axim on Monday, August 4, 2026, Dr Bawumia said the vision of the founders of the UGCC remains as relevant today as it was during the struggle for self-government.
He noted that the political tradition of Danquah, Busia and Dombo was founded not merely on political slogans but on enduring principles designed to shape governance and national development.
“Through Danquah, Busia, Dombo and those who stood with them, that tradition came to represent certain firm ideas: respect for the individual, government under law, democratic accountability, private enterprise, social responsibility and a Ghana held together by equal citizenship,” Dr Bawumia stated.
The former Vice President emphasised that these democratic values must be translated into practical governance rather than remaining symbolic ideals.
“These values were never meant to be framed and hung on a wall. They were meant to guide public choices.”
According to Dr Bawumia, the principles of the UGCC should influence the conduct of leaders, institutions and public policy to ensure democracy delivers meaningful benefits to citizens.
Dr Bawumia argued that genuine freedom extends far beyond the right to vote during elections.
He said democracy should guarantee the freedom of expression, religious liberty, equal economic opportunities and protection from arbitrary state action.
“Freedom, for example, is not only the freedom to vote. It is the freedom to speak without fear, to worship according to one’s conscience, to build a lawful business, and to expect fair treatment from the State.”
He stressed that these freedoms are fundamental to building a democratic society where citizens can participate fully in national development.
Speaking on justice and governance, Dr Bawumia underscored the importance of an impartial legal system that treats every citizen equally regardless of social status or political influence.
“The rule of law is not a phrase for lawyers. It is the assurance that a poor person and a powerful person will meet the same law.”
He maintained that equal justice before the law remains one of the defining pillars of a functioning democracy.
While describing the ideals of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition as timeless, Dr Bawumia said their continued relevance depends on how faithfully they are demonstrated in practice.
“Those ideas remain relevant. But if we want Ghanaians to believe that they still define us, they must be visible in the way we behave, the way we organize and the solutions we offer.”
He added that democracy can only fulfil its promise when citizens witness respect for individual rights, equal justice and economic opportunity reflected in the daily conduct of political leaders and public institutions.
The address formed part of activities marking UGCC Founding Day, an annual event observed by the New Patriotic Party to honour the legacy of the United Gold Coast Convention and reflect on the enduring significance of the Danquah-Busia-Dombo political tradition in Ghana’s democratic journey.
 Flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called for the ideals of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC)){kind=link}