NPP and NDC Intensify Leadership Reorganization Campaigns Ahead of 2026 National Conferences

Ghana’s major political parties are entering a critical phase of internal restructuring as they prepare for leadership transitions and the 2028 general elections. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is scheduled to hold its National Delegates Conference in Kumasi on October 3, 2026, where 47 aspirants will compete for nine national positions. Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged members to prioritize internal cohesion and grassroots mobilization, emphasizing that the party’s success depends on reconnecting with its core supporters. Meanwhile, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) is looking toward its own National Congress on December 19, 2026, while concurrently managing internal discipline and localized grievances across various constituencies.

The NPP chairmanship race has become a focal point of national attention, featuring high-profile candidates including former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, John Boadu, Sammy Crabbe, and Paul Afoko. A study by University of Ghana lecturers indicates a strong preference among stakeholders for Agyarko for the chairmanship and Eugene Boakye Antwi for the General Secretary position, with the latter favored over incumbent Justin Frimpong Kodua. To ensure an orderly process, the National Officers Elections Committee (NOEC), led by Frederick Opare-Ansah, has implemented a digital eligibility verification system for delegates. Simultaneously, NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has ramped up his public engagements, recently visiting Asantehemaa Nana Yaa Akyaa II at the Manhyia Palace and holding policy dialogues with trade advocacy groups regarding the rising costs of import duties and business operations.

Within the NDC, the contest for National Chairman has officially welcomed former Local Government Minister Dr. Akwasi Opong-Fosu, who is campaigning on a three-pillar vision of ‘restoration, renewal, and reset.’ Opong-Fosu aims to shift the party toward a system-driven organization rather than one defined by individual personalities. However, the party leadership is also focused on maintaining order; General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey recently issued a directive halting all premature parliamentary campaign activities to prevent disruptions to party unity. This disciplinary focus comes amid grassroots tension, such as in Kwadaso, where NDC supporters have demonstrated to demand the removal of Municipal Chief Executive Eric Asibey over allegations of corruption and poor engagement with local party structures.

These organizational shifts are unfolding under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama, who was inaugurated in January 2025. Both the NPP and NDC are now focusing on long-term strategy, including the inauguration of specialized working committees in regions like Ashanti to bolster campaign machinery for 2028. As candidates like Steven Nhyira Odarteifio and Mavis Hawa Koomson vie for influential youth and women's organizer roles respectively, the outcome of these internal elections will likely define the political landscape in Ghana for the next four years.