The gloves are well and truly off in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the battle for the coveted flagbearer position descends into a public spectacle of endorsements, raising questions about genuine support versus political theatrics.
The two titans, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong, are locked in a relentless struggle, with former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and even sitting Members of Parliament becoming pawns in this high-stakes game.
Sources close to the NPP hierarchy reveal a bewildering scenario where allegiance appears to be as fluid as the Ghanaian cedi.
Just days after reports surfaced of firebrand Kennedy Agyapong hosting a lavish lunch for a staggering 268 former MMDCEs, securing their “unwavering support” for his 2028 presidential bid, a counter-offensive has been launched.
Agyapong, known for his no-holds-barred approach, reportedly used the closed-door meeting to declare his intentions, painting a vivid picture of a Ghana under his leadership – one focused on job creation and economic empowerment.
The MMDCEs, fresh from their positions in the previous Akufo-Addo administration, seemingly fell in line, hailing him as a “transformational leader.”
Yet, in a dramatic twist, a coalition of 220 former MMDCEs (a curious overlap, one might observe) has now publicly thrown their weight behind Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
This group, styling themselves the “Forum of Former MMDCEs for Dr. Bawumia,” held a press conference at Accra’s Alisa Hotel on Monday, June 23, unequivocally declaring their “strong, unshaken endorsement” for the former Vice President ahead of the January 31, 2026, primaries.
Their rationale? A “thorough assessment of competence and vision” that, they claim, pointed overwhelmingly to Bawumia.
They assert their deep understanding of NPP’s grassroots, with 95% of them having served as Constituency and Regional Executives for over 16 years, vowing to deploy this experience to ensure Bawumia’s message penetrates every corner of Ghana.
Their strategy hinges on Bawumia’s “known candidate” status, arguing it offers the NPP a crucial head start.
The glaring question remains: How many of these former MMDCEs have effectively endorsed both candidates, playing a dangerous game of political hedging? The apparent double-dipping in endorsements has set tongues wagging within the party, with many questioning the sincerity of these public declarations.
The endorsement drama extends to Parliament, where a reported 60 minority MPs paid a visit to Dr. Bawumia’s Nima office, pledging their support for his renewed presidential ambitions.
However, this display of parliamentary might has been swiftly dismissed as “cosmetic” and “politically calculated” by none other than Andy Appiah-Kubi, the former MP for Asante Akyem North.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Appiah-Kubi scoffed at the numbers, stating, “I was not surprised at all. The fact that many people were there doesn’t mean they all support him.”
He revealed that some MPs confided in him, admitting their attendance was out of “obligation or pressure,” rather than genuine conviction. “They were called and told that Dr. Bawumia wanted to meet them. At that point, you can’t say no. But that doesn’t mean they support him,” Appiah-Kubi asserted.
As the NPP’s internal election clock ticks, the endorsement merry-go-round continues.
The New Republic will be closely monitoring how these seemingly contradictory pledges and alleged political maneuvering will ultimately shape the race for the NPP flagbearer.
The true allegiance of these influential figures, it seems, is yet to be definitively revealed.