In the heart of the Ashanti Region, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign convoy encountered an unexpected backlash from local youth. As Bawumia continues his tour through the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) stronghold, aiming to galvanize support for his presidential bid in the 2024 elections, a recent incident in Adum has sparked significant attention.

A video circulating online captures a moment where Bawumia’s convoy, comprising V8 vehicles, a police van, and a bus, was met with vocal disapproval from a small group of young residents. The convoy's slow progress through the crowded streets of Adum provided an opportunity for the protesters to make their voices heard.

Amidst the noise and the movement of the convoy, the youths could be distinctly heard expressing their frustration. “This is all you people know, driving in V8s, shame unto you all, thieves, shame unto you,” they chanted, voicing a palpable sense of disillusionment with the current political leadership. Their dissatisfaction was further emphasized with declarations like, “You have done nothing, move your convoy away, this is all you know. We are wiser, this year we will vote for change, we will change this year.”

This incident comes as Bawumia campaigns to succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, hoping to secure the NPP’s mandate for the 2024 general elections. Despite the NPP’s traditionally strong support in the Ashanti Region, the episode in Adum highlights a segment of the populace yearning for change and feeling overlooked by the current administration.

Bawumia's main rival in the upcoming elections is former President John Dramani Mahama, who is vying for the presidency for the fourth consecutive time. Mahama, who won the presidency in 2012 but lost to Akufo-Addo in 2016 and 2020, remains a formidable contender. The reaction in Adum signals a potentially turbulent campaign trail ahead for Bawumia, as he navigates both support and dissent within the NPP’s base.

The youth’s bold confrontation with Bawumia's convoy is a stark reminder of the growing demand for accountability and tangible change in Ghana’s political landscape. As the election season progresses, it will be crucial to observe how such grassroots sentiments influence the broader electoral dynamics.