Akufo-Addo and Bawumia gave the elections another go in 2012. Again, they lost.
The NPP challenged the election results in the Supreme Court, choosing Bawumia as their star witness.
During the proceedings, which were broadcast on national television, Bawumia came across as witty and unflustered by the relentless, days-long cross-examination.
“People were like, who is this guy? He's really the guy to root for," said Dr Sefa-Nyarko, who lectures on African leadership at King's College London.
Akufo-Addo decided to keep Bawumia on his ticket and in 2016, on their third shot at power, the NPP won with 51.3% of the vote. Bawumia finally became vice-president.
Bawumia's journey to the top began in 1963, when he was born into a large family in the northern city of Tamale.
He was the 12th of his father's 18 children.
After completing primary and secondary school in Ghana, Bawumia moved to the UK for undergraduate study and went on to gain a masters in economics from the prestigious Oxford University.
To support himself during his studies, he took up jobs as a taxi driver and cleaner.
He returned to Ghana in 2000 to work at the central bank, where he worked his way up to become deputy governor.
