The opposition New Patriotic Party is inching towards its 2026 presidential primaries.
The stakes could not be higher. The contest between the five stalwarts of the party will shape the political party’s future direction.
The candidates are Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong, Hon. Dr. Bryan Acheampong, H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
The 2026 presidential primary will determine the party’s post-Akufo-Addo identity and potentially determine whether the NPP can maintain its grip on power after two consecutive terms in office.
Below are five key questions that capture what’s truly at stake.
1. Who Will Emerge as the Unifying Force for a Divided Party?
There is a lingering internal division following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 general elections. The party in 2026 must choose a leader capable of healing factional wounds between camps loyal to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and other power blocs in the party. The next NPP flagbearer must not only command grassroots loyalty but also inspire confidence among the party’s traditional base, technocrats, and swing voters alike. The choice of a unifier will determine whether the NPP can present a cohesive front in 2028 or risk internal fractures that could hand the opposition an easy victory.
2. What Does the Contest Mean for the Party’s 2028 Prospects?
The 2026 primaries for the New Patriotic Party is not just about leadership, it is also mostly about electability.
The chosen candidate must be able to counter the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate and be able to convince Ghanaians that the NPP remains the party of competence, reform, and progress.
The decision on who leads the New Patriotic Party after the January 31, 2026 presidential primaries will extend the party’s legacy into a new era or mark the beginning of a long rebuilding process in opposition.
3. Can the Next Flagbearer Rebrand the Party for a New Generation?
The Ghanaian political space has evolved over the years, and the 2024 election is proof of this fact. The New Patriotic Party is known to have the support base for business elites, middle-class professionals, and others.
The choice of a flagbearer must also account for younger, more politically aware electorates who are frustrated by unemployment and economic uncertainty.
Can the New Patriotic Party evolve from legacy politics to capture the Genz and Millenial voters? The Political party’s choice of candidate to be chosen on January 31,2026 will have to answer this question.
