Justin Koduah Frimpong
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will hold its presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer on January 31, 2026.
This was disclosed after the National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council (NC) meeting held in Accra yesterday.
General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, addressing journalists after the meeting said the party will hold its national delegates’ conference on July 19, 2025 ahead of its presidential primaries.
“The National Council today made the decision that the date for our presidential primaries is set for January 31, 2026, that is the date we shall hold our presidential primaries,” he said.
Mr. Frimpong further noted that the national delegates’ conference, which will take place at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), is expected to bring together polling station, constituency and regional executives of the party, as well as former appointees and ministers to amend some provisions of the NPP Constitution.
“… because there is going to be a proposal or a motion for the amendment of our constitution, a nine-member planning committee has been put in place to prepare and also implement directive that has been given to them, for us to have a successful delegates’ conference to amend the provision of our Constitution,” he added.
The planning committee is chaired by former Member of Parliament for Bekwai, Joseph Osei Owusu, with NPP National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, as the Vice Chair. Other members are Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Hamed Shaib, NPP Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Divine Otoo Agorhon, Deputy General Secretary, Haruna Mohammed, former Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei Asare, National Treasurer, Dr. Charles Dwamena, Deputy National Women’s Organiser, Safia Mohammed and National Youth Organiser, Salam Mustapha.
The National Executive Committee also referred a set of proposed constitutional amendments to the party’s National Council following the report of the Prof. Mike Oquaye Committee.
Present at the meeting included former Vice President and flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, and some Members of Parliament.
Chairman Ntim’s Absence
The party’s First Vice Chairperson, Danquah Smith Buttey, chaired the NEC meeting following the National Chairman, Stephen Ayesu Ntim’s earlier request to be granted leave on health grounds.
Representatives of Mr. Ntim’s family, in a letter jointly signed and dated June 16, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of the NPP Council of Elders, requested his temporary withdrawal from all party duties, citing deteriorating health condition.
According to the family, the chairman was not well, and described him as experiencing “cognitive dissonance and mental incapacitation”, and would want the party to excuse him from participating in a meeting scheduled by the National Executive Council on Tuesday in Accra.
“At this juncture, we the family members of Mr. Stephen Ntim have learned that the party has convened a meeting scheduled to be chaired by Mr. Ntim, and we would like our beloved son, brother, nephew and relative, Stephen Ntim, to be excused from attendance of this event, due to recent developments on his health and well-being beginning from today (Monday) June 16, 2025,” parts of the letter read.
It said the chairman’s condition requires him to take time off from active professional activities in the interest of medical attention and monitoring for the time being, citing his lifetime commitment and dedication to the party, having worked for the party in various capacities for decades.
“In compliance with his professional medical advice and in cognizance of his demanding office, we the family members do hereby request that Mr. Ntim be temporarily excused, not only from active office duty, but also from outright party politics until further notice.
“This is the resolution from the recent extended family meeting. Common sense dictates that, Steve, as a matter of urgency, be temporarily excused, not only from the rigors of active politics, but from intra-party activities in order to make way for needed peace and solace, and for concentration on the ongoing required medical treatment process,” it stated.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah