The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will vote today, Saturday, January 31, to elect a flagbearer in preparation for the 2028 general elections.
Five candidates are competing in the internal elections.
They include former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Assin Central legislator Kennedy Agyapong, former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, former Agriculture Minister Dr Bryan Acheampong, and former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.
Polls are set to be open at 7 a.m. and shut at 4 p.m.
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a former president, warned the candidate against actions that could undermine the party’s unity.
Individual goals cannot take precedence over the party’s goals, he said.
At the signing of the Peace Pact between the five NPP presidential candidates on Thursday, January 22, 2026, he stated, “The ideology of the NPP remains attractive to Ghanaians. The NPP is bigger than any individual, unity is not an option, a strategic necessity to victory,”
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, also issued a warning to every candidate running in the New Patriotic Party presidential primary.
He requested that they behave in an NPP manner.
“Let us rise above short-term emotions. Let us protect the party that has given us a voice. Our party depends on this, and Ghana is counting on us,” he said.
Joseph Osei Owusu (Joewise), the chairman of the New Patriotic Party Elections Committee, instructed all NPP presidential candidates to pledge to accept the results of the primary on January 31, 2026.
He emphasised that such a pledge would boost party members’ self-esteem and allow them to freely campaign and cast ballots for the candidates of their choice without worrying about intimidation or division.
“We want the contestants to affirm that the process has so far been transparent, inclusive, and fair. We want them to commit to accepting the results, and we want them to commit to supporting whoever wins out of the five contestants,” he stated.
“We believe this will allow or enable members of the party to build the sufficient confidence we need to be able to freely campaign and vote for whom they choose,” he explained.
Former Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye, for his part, demanded that the election of a flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party be conducted fairly.
He asked each candidate to uphold the party’s principles at all times.
Throughout the election process, Mr. Oquaye highlighted the importance of unity, justice, and respect for the party’s principles.
He replied, “Please do something honourable for the New Patriotic Party and our tradition.”
He went on to say that the party’s cohesiveness has been badly impacted by previous instances of unfair practices, partiality, and strong partisanship, which is why signing the peace agreement is essential.
He continued, “In saying this, I am mindful that unfair practices, partiality, and base partisanship occurred in our party, which have destroyed or shaken our unity.”
Source: newsthemegh.com