…Boakye Agyarko Slams Move as ‘Roofing a Building Without Foundation’
By Prince Ahenkorah
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), has announced that the party’s presidential primaries will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
This decision was reached during a critical meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
The General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, made the announcement, marking the beginning of an important race to select the party’s flagbearer for the upcoming 2028 general elections.
Meanwhile, former NPP presidential aspirant, Boakye Agyarko, has described the move by the party as roofing a building before digging the foundation. “Who builds, but roofs the building before digging the foundation?” Mr. Agyarko questioned.
Boakye Agyarko, in an interview with Sompa FM, indicated that some people within the party want to capture power by all means, thereby making unrealistic decisions. “Why are they going to elect a flagbearer before electing those at the base of the party’s structure? To me, I see it to be ‘total nonsense’,” he furiously stated.
The former NPP presidential aspirant further indicated that electing a flagbearer at this early stage won’t help the fibre of the party. He gave statistical information to back his assertions, indicating that there are eighty-eight thousand, nine hundred and seventeen human settlements in Ghana. “If you elect your flagbearer to tour all the settlements in Ghana, they will need 10 years to be able to do so, but if you have 210,000 polling station executives, you can use the executives to reach the settlements, and within one week, you have covered all the settlements.
“We are selling the party first and foremost before the presidential candidate. There is no way one person can win an election for any political party. That is why we start from polling stations.”
He cited the importance of polling station officers within the party, stating that they are the people who are closer to the voters and can influence them. He reiterated that no presidential candidate can win an election if there are no polling station officials.
Relating to the NPP primaries, the National Council confirmed that January 31, 2026, is the designated date for the primaries, generating considerable excitement within the party.
The event is expected to draw significant attention from both seasoned members and new entrants aiming to lead the NPP into the next electoral phase.
Party officials indicated that detailed nomination guidelines, campaign timelines, and a code of conduct for candidates will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The NEC reassured party members that the primaries will be conducted in a transparent manner, ensuring adherence to the democratic principles of the NPP.
Intel picked up by The New Republic indicates that four prominent leaders within the NPP eye the presidential primaries and are ready to contest.
The potential contenders are the former Vice President and 2024 presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and Dr. Bryan Acheampong.
Despite leading the NPP to a historic loss, Bawumia remains confident in the party’s comeback, potentially under his leadership. Dr. Bawumia has argued that it’s common for first-time candidates to fall short, suggesting that his second attempt might bring better results.
Moreover, Kennedy Agyapong has formally declared his intent to contest and has promised not to yield to internal pressures.
His brother, Ralph Agyapong, also confirmed, during an interview with Kings Jersey TV in the United States on March 15, 2025.
Also signaling interest is Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the former Education Minister and MP for Bosomtwe. Once a staunch ally of Dr. Bawumia, Adutwum hinted at his ambitions through a now-deleted Facebook post.
The post said, “In the silence of the noise, one man’s record speaks louder than mere campaign chants. One man’s impact echo across every region. One man’s vision is what Ghana needs for a total Ghanaian transformation.”
The post celebrated his track record and included a bold campaign-style image branded with NPP colours and the slogan: “The ADUTWUM FACTOR – The NPP’s surest bet for victory in 2028.”
The most recent name to enter the conversation is Dr. Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi and former Minister of Food and Agriculture. Though he has yet to formally declare, his potential candidacy was suggested by Andy Appiah-Kubi, a former MP for Asante Akim North. In media engagement, Appiah-Kubi touted Acheampong as the ideal candidate to revitalize the party.
He remarked, “The mission ahead requires a strong candidate to redeem the party, and Dr. Bryan Acheampong is gearing up for that task. While he’ll make his intentions known in due time, I speak as a messenger. His credentials and achievements speak for themselves.”
He further stated, “If we want someone with intellectual strength, Bryan is our man. If we’re seeking a successful entrepreneur, he fits the bill too. With him, we get both: a symbol of victory and competence.”
As the race takes shape, the country is yet to see who will take the future of the NPP forward to win power come the 2028 general elections. The party must focus on unity and strategy to avoid deepening internal cracks ahead of the primaries.