The race for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer slot has begun in earnest following the announcement by the party to hold its presidential primaries on January 31, 2026 ahead of the 2028 general election.
Although speculations were rife about individuals within the party gearing up to contest the flagbearer slot prior to the National Council (NC) meeting, the announcement of the date for the presidential primaries by the NPP’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong last Tuesday seems to have opened the way for some members to declare their intentions to contest.
A number of potential candidates have so far either hinted of their interest in vying for the flagbearership slot of the NPP or publicly stepped their foot forward.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Among the contenders for the slot is former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was the presidential candidate for the party in the 2024 election.
In the last NPP presidential primaries, Dr. Bawumia defeated a field of three other candidates, including Kennedy Agyapong, the outspoken former Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former Minister for Agriculture and former Mampong MP, and Francis Addai-Nimoh.
Certified results announced by a Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, revealed that Dr. Bawumia polled 118,210 votes, representing 61.47% while his closest contender, Mr. Agyapong, polled 71,996 votes, representing 37.41%.
Although Dr. Bawumia has not officially declared his intention, he has hinted of a comeback. During his recent ‘Thank You Tour’, he acknowledged concerns and mistakes the NPP made while in government, and asked party supporters to return the party to power in 2028 under his leadership.
DAILY GUIDE has gathered that many supporters of the party, including some siting Members of Parliament (MPs) and pundits are confident that the former Vice President, if given another opportunity, is likely to unseat the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2028 presidential election.
Some supporters have asked the party to “push Dr. Bawumia up once again, so the good people of Ghana will join hands with them and give him his well-deserved opportunity to serve as President and implement his transformative vision for the country”.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong
Former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, is another individual who is highly tipped to contest the NPP’s flagbearer race following his impressive results as a first time contender in the last presidential primaries. He was the first to unofficially declare his intention to contest the flagbearer slot before the announcement of the date for the polls.
Mr. Agyapong, in the lead up to the 2024 general election, obtained 37.41% of the votes during the party’s delegates’ conference.
According to some political observers, the former Assin Central MP is likely to give Dr. Bawumia a stiff competition again even though he obtained a lower percentage than what Dr. Bawumia obtained.
One such person who believes in the candidature of Mr. Agyapong is former Western North Regional Minister under the Akufo-Addo administration, Joojo Rocky Obeng.
The endorsement has sent ripples through the NPP, igniting debates and drawing attention from both supporters and critics.
Mr. Obeng praised Mr. Agyapong’s unapologetic stance on corruption and his track record in job creation. According to him, Mr. Agyapong, known for his fiery rhetoric and business acumen, has been an important figure in Ghanaian politics.
He said Mr. Agyapong’s supporters view him as a fearless advocate for accountability, while detractors criticise his confrontational style.
Mr. Obeng’s endorsement appears to be a strategic move to bridge the gap between Mr. Agyapong’s traditional base and the younger, tech-savvy, business and professional community.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
One such individual who has officially expressed his intention to contest for the flagbearership slot is former Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.
Dr. Adutwum, on Wednesday, June 18, officially announced his candidature for the flagbearership next year, describing his intention as a lifelong call to serve his party and the country.
The former minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe in the Ashanti Region, told the press his ambition to serve the NPP in that capacity is in response to calls from some supporters of the party, religious leaders, youth groups among others.
He is touted by many Ghanaians for his role in transforming the educational system, particularly Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in various secondary schools in the country.
Apart from the role he played in transforming Ghana’s educational landscape, he also served as the Vice Chairman of the party’s California branch in the US.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong
Another stalwart of the party, former Minister of Agriculture and current Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, also recently announced the formation of an Exploratory Committee to assess the possibility of a bid for the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearership.
He explained that the Committee would engage stakeholders, especially at the grassroots, to test whether his vision aligns with the aspirations of the party and Ghanaians in general.
According to him, he has served the NPP faithfully, supported and helped shape impactful policies using resources at his disposal.
The businessman, who is also touted for his entrepreneurial acumen especially in the hospitality space, said his vision reflects not just ambition, but intentional preparation for national leadership.
But as things begin to unfold following the announcement of the presidential primaries, supporters of the party have their fingers crossed to welcome an official announcement from him.
Kwabena Agyei Agyepong
Former General Secretary of the NPP, and a former presidential aspirant, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, who earlier urged the party to prioritise its presidential primaries ahead of all other internal elections, has not yet declared his intention to contest again, having made attempts in the past.
As the party prepares to hold its delegates conference in July, Ghanaians and political observers have kept their fingers crossed to witness another tall list or a reduction in the days ahead.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah