Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has said that the ideals that guided the founders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) must serve as the living compass for Ghana’s democracy, ensuring that citizens enjoy freedom without fear or persecution.

In a speech read on his behalf in Axim on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, to commemorate the formation of the UGCC, Dr Bawumia said the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition was built not merely on slogans but on principles intended to shape the governance of the country.

“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 stressed that these values cannot remain mere ideals on paper.

“These values were never meant to be framed and hung on a wall. They were meant to guide public choices,” he said.

He explained that the UGCC’s understanding of freedom extends far beyond the right to vote.

“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 noted.

On justice, Dr Bawumia said the rule of law must be practical and apply equally to all citizens.

“The rule of law is not a phrase for lawyers. It is the assurance that a poor person and a powerful person will be subject to the same law,” he said.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to enterprise, emphasizing that it does not mean ignoring the challenges faced by ordinary people.

“Enterprise is not indifference to hardship. It is the belief that when people are given opportunity, skills, and a fair system, they can create prosperity for themselves and for others,” he stated.

Dr Bawumia noted that while these ideas remain timeless, their credibility depends on how they are put into 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.

The address in Axim formed part of activities marking UGCC Founding Day, which the NPP uses to reflect on the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition and its relevance to modern Ghana.

Dr Bawumia’s message was clear: for democracy to deliver real freedom, Ghanaians must see respect for individual rights, equal justice, and economic opportunity reflected in the daily conduct of leaders and institutions.