The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday vetted three of the five aspirants seeking to lead the party into the 2028 general election.
The exercise, which forms part of the party’s roadmap toward the January 2026 presidential primaries, saw former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; former Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum; and former Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, take their turns before the vetting committee in Accra.
The remaining two aspirants, former Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Bryan Acheampong and former General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, are scheduled to appear later in the week.
Bawumia Expresses Confidence
Speaking to journalists after his session, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia described the exercise as open and comprehensive, noting that he was satisfied with the line of questioning and the opportunity it offered to clarify his vision for the party and the nation.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for being here. I have just been in front of our vetting committee, and we have had very truthful discussions. They asked many questions, and I was able to answer them, so I am very satisfied with my vetting,” he said.
The former Vice President assured party members that he would not take their support for granted. “From vetting, we are heading through the country to campaign. We have to campaign very hard, sell our ideas and sell the NPP so that we can secure this nomination and then proceed for the 2028 elections,” he added.
Adutwum Pledges Renewal
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, who was also vetted, framed his candidacy as an opportunity for the party to present a new wave of leadership that would drive transformation in the country.
“Today marks a significant step toward what I believe will be a new chapter in Ghana’s transformation,” he said ahead of his vetting.
“With steadfast resolve, we remain committed to the rebuilding process, ready to serve our party and our beloved nation with dedication and humility. With Dr. Adutwum, there is renewed hope for all,” he added.
Agyapong Sticks to His Vision
Kennedy Agyapong, a second-term aspirant in the flagbearer race, told reporters that the vetting process was professional and cordial.
He said he faced no hostility, stressing that his longstanding service to the party was acknowledged by the committee.
“They wanted to know why I want to be president, and my vision for the country as well as the party. I enumerated a couple of points on how I’m going to address some problems. Basically that was the vetting,” he explained.
Mr. Agyapong used the platform to further elaborate on his proposed “Asian Model” of development. According to him, countries like South Korea, India, and the United Arab Emirates successfully built strong economies by supporting entrepreneurs with capital and technical backing.
“In Asia, governments made conscious efforts to identify potential talents and businessmen, supported them with loans, and ensured accountability through strict monitoring. Once they paid back the loans, the businesses became theirs, helping them grow into millionaires. That is how they expanded their economies,” he said.
He argued that Ghana could replicate this strategy to overcome the persistent challenge of inadequate capital for local businesses.
“The most difficult part of business is capital. If government helps provide that, many more Ghanaians can thrive,” he said.
Road to January 2026
The NPP vetting process, which began yesterday, is considered one of the most crucial steps in narrowing down the field of contenders.
NPP executives have assured that the process will be fair, transparent, and geared toward producing a unifying candidate capable of leading the party to victory in 2028.
By Ernest Kofi Adu