
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been officially declared the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following a decisive victory in the presidential primary held on January 31, 2026. Securing 110,643 votes (56.48%), Bawumia comfortably defeated his closest rivals, including Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who garnered 46,554 votes (23.76%), and Dr. Bryan Acheampong, who received 36,303 votes (18.53%). Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo celebrated the win at the party headquarters, joining supporters in song and hailing Bawumia as a competent leader equipped to handle the nation's economic challenges. The election, which utilized an expanded delegate college involving over 211,000 voters across 333 polling centers, was widely praised for its transparency and peaceful conduct.
Following the declaration, a significant wave of reconciliation swept through the party as defeated candidates, including Kennedy Agyapong, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, and Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, conceded defeat and pledged their full support to Bawumia. In his victory address, Dr. Bawumia issued a clarion call for unity, urging members to move past internal competition to focus on the 2028 general elections. Former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, further bolstered the candidate's image, describing Bawumia as the most impactful Vice President in Ghana’s history and the National Democratic Congress's (NDC) 'worst nightmare' due to his focus on digitalization and policy innovation, such as the GhanaCard and Mobile Money Interoperability.
Despite the overarching theme of unity, the primary season was not without its controversies. Former MP Kobina Tahiru Hammond publicly explained his refusal to support Kennedy Agyapong, citing offensive remarks regarding the suitability of Muslims for the presidency. Meanwhile, Prophet Elbernard Nelson-Eshun of Spirit Life Revival Ministries issued a public apology after his prophecy that Agyapong would win proved incorrect, an incident that prompted Election Watch Ghana to urge a shift from spiritual predictions toward data-driven analysis. On the grassroots level, the election was marked by a powerful display of civic duty from Frank Nti, a physically challenged delegate who crawled 30 meters to cast his vote, symbolizing the deep-seated commitment of the party's base.
With the primary concluded, the NPP has signaled an immediate transition into campaign mode for the 2028 elections. Former Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam warned the NDC that the NPP is now 'solid' and prepared for a vigorous campaign focused on grassroots mobilization and an 'Economic Reset.' Campaign spokesperson Dennis Miracles Aboagye emphasized that the delegates' choice reflected a desire for strategic continuity. As the party prepares to 'break the eight,' the focus remains on aligning the NPP's traditional values with a digital-first economic approach to secure a historic third consecutive term in office.
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