With the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2026 presidential primaries on the horizon, the race to succeed the party’s current leadership is heating up — and the battle lines are being clearly drawn.
In a bold and calculated move, Assin Central MP and businessman Kennedy Ohene Agyapong met with 268 former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in a closed-door session at his private office in Accra.
During the high-level engagement, Agyapong officially declared his intent to contest the NPP flagbearership.
He presented his vision for Ghana, focusing on job creation, economic empowerment, and radical decentralisation of governance.
“As of now, I employ over 7,500 Ghanaians across my businesses. My steel factory is logistically complete, and once GRIDCo provides electricity, it will create over 1,000 additional jobs. This is the kind of practical leadership Ghana needs,” Agyapong asserted.
He sharply criticised what he described as the over-centralisation of power in Accra, which he claims crippled the ability of MMDCEs to serve their local communities effectively.
“You couldn’t even award a basic contract without clearance from Accra. That must change,” he said, promising to give MMDCEs more autonomy under his leadership.
Agyapong also addressed public misconceptions about his image, urging the former MMDCEs to judge him based on his work ethic and accomplishments, not media narratives.
The meeting ended on an emotional and energising note, as the former local government executives broke into spontaneous chants of “Wo yɛ yɛ yaa, Ken bɛba!” — meaning, “You can’t stop Ken from coming.”
Several attendees publicly pledged support for his bid, calling him a “transformational leader” who bridges the worlds of business and governance.
Bawumia Gains Momentum with Strong Parliamentary Support
Meanwhile, former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia continues to consolidate support within the party’s parliamentary caucus.
In a significant display of strength, over 60 NPP Members of Parliament visited Dr. Bawumia to endorse his candidacy for the party’s 2026 flagbearership.
This visit underscores Dr. Bawumia’s growing influence within the NPP and signals a tightening contest between the party’s top contenders.
The Road to January 31, 2026: Who Will Lead the NPP?
The NPP is currently bracing for a competitive internal election, with four key figures having formally declared their intent to run:
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Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia – Former Vice President
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Ken Ohene Agyapong – MP for Assin Central & Businessman
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Bryan Acheampong – Minister for Agriculture
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Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum – Minister for Education
With grassroots mobilisation and parliamentary alliances taking shape, the battle for the NPP flagbearership promises to be one of the most fiercely contested in the party’s history.
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