A GNA Feature by Edward Acquah
Accra, Oct. 13, GNA – The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has set its presidential primaries for January 31, 2026, a decision made earlier than many expected.
This early congress has stirred debate within the party, with critics warning that the time gained by choosing a flagbearer so far ahead might come at the cost of internal unity.
Five aspirants – Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong Former Member of Parliament, Bryan Acheampong Member Parliament and Former Minister; Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum Member of Parliament and Former Minister; Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Former General Secretary– have laced their boots for the big “showdown” early next year.
The campaign is effectively underway, with aspirants wrestling one another with sometimes very harsh words. Some aspirants and commentators argue that infighting is increasing as the stakes rise.
The NPP’s leadership, concerned about the possibility of the internal campaign to further ravage the Party’s unity, has issued guidelines for all aspirants and their followers, in a bid to promote decent campaign and reduce discord and animosity.
The high stakes appeared to have washed down commitment to the guidelines as aspirants and their followers openly take their opponents to the cleaners – a development that has promoted the leadership of the Party to crack the whip.
Mr Justin Frimpong Kodua, General Secretary of the NPP, has referred the NPP’s Bono Regional Chairman, Mr Kwame Baffoe (popularly known as Abronye DC), and Ernest Owusu-Bempah, a National Communications Officer of the NPP, to the party’s Disciplinary Committee over recent conduct deemed to have breached the party’s code of ethics.
Mr Kodua, in an internal memo copied to the National Steering Committee, said the referral was necessary “to safeguard discipline, cohesion, and mutual respect within the party’s rank and file.”
Recent polls: who holds the edge?
Polls by Global Info Analytics show a strong lead for Dr. Bawumia, though they also indicate gaps that other aspirants may exploit.
In a September 29, 2025 poll, Dr. Bawumia attracted 57 per cent of preference among NPP voters. Kennedy Agyapong trailed with 29 per cent. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and Dr. Bryan Acheampong polled 6 per cent and 5 per cent respectively, while Kwabena Agyapong had 3 per cent.
In the same tracking survey, Dr. Bawumia also led in swing regions such as Greater Accra, Central, and Western. In these areas, his support was consistent with the national figure, while Kennedy Agyapong lagged behind, and other candidates had small single‐digit support.
Among NPP delegates, Dr. Bawumia commands 47 per cent support. Kennedy Agyapong has 17 per cent among delegates. Other aspirants are at the far end; nevertheless, a large share of delegates remain undecided or have not disclosed their preference.
An earlier poll from August 2025 by the same Global Info Analytics had also placed Dr. Bawumia at 52 per cent support among delegates, with Kennedy Agyapong at about 17 per cent, while other aspirants even then had much weaker figures.
Although the opinion polls put Dr. Bawumia ahead, there remains opportunity for shifts, especially among undecided delegates. With some major regions (Ashanti and Eastern) showing pockets of uncertainty, the last moments in the campaign could be the gamechanger.
Stakes, risks, and what is at risk
The stakes are high for the NPP. The party lost the 2024 general elections and is under pressure to rebuild, unify, and present a credible alternative for 2028. Choosing a flagbearer early is supposed to give the winner more time to campaign, raise resources, and present policy positions strongly.
The negative campaigning or personal attacks, as the race intensifies under the longer timeline, could leave deeper wounds hard to heal, potentially fracturing relationships within the party even after the primaries.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr. Bernard Tutu Boahene, Lecturer and Political Marketing Strategist at the University of Education, Winneba, said the NPP’s late primaries ahead of the 2024 general elections affected the brand image of the Party and the campaign of the flagbearer.
He said the decision to go for early congress followed the experience of 2024 but urged the leadership of the Party to build trust among all aspirants by creating an environment that allowed all aspirants to be part of decision making.
“To ensure the strength of the brand and Party unity, the leadership and the camps must start talking on how to patch differences before the election. They should not wait until a new flag bearer has been elected before they call for unity.” Dr Tutu-Boahene said.
Why Ghana needs a stable and responsible opposition
In accordance with the tenets of democracy, an effective opposition is always needed to ensure good governance, transparency, and accountability ahead of the next general elections.
The NPP must stand on its feet as a viable alternative. It can provide alternative policy proposals, challenge the government from a place of credibility, and represent citizens’ concerns in Parliament and beyond.
If the opposition is disunited or driven by internal battles that spill into the public domain, confidence in democratic processes may weaken, and governmental excesses or missteps may go insufficiently checked.
Ghana’s voters deserve an opposition that holds power to account, proposes viable alternatives, and works within democratic norms.
If the NPP could manage its internal elections without deep fractures, it could strengthen Ghana’s democratic fabric and offer citizens a credible alternative for 2028. If not, the risk is that its internal wounds may weaken the opposition, leaving the ruling party less challenged—and that would not be good for democratic accountability.
GNA
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong