In a move aimed at safeguarding internal cohesion and ensuring a smooth contest, the five aspirants vying for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential slot have formally pledged to uphold peace and unity as the party prepares to elect its flagbearer on January 31, 2026.
The aspirants—former Assin Central Member of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Agyapong; Member of Parliament for Abetifi and former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong; former Vice-President and 2024 NPP presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; former Minister of Education and Bosomtwe MP, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum; and former Presidential Press Secretary and former NPP General Secretary, Mr Kwabena Agyepong—signed a peace pact committing themselves to respect the party’s electoral process and support the eventual winner.
Mr Kwabena Agyepong, a civil engineer and former General Secretary of the party, is making his third attempt at the NPP flagbearership, having previously contested in 2007 and 2023. Mr Kennedy Agyapong, a former MP for Assin Central, is contesting for the second time after placing second to Dr Bawumia in the 2023 presidential primaries.
Dr Bryan Acheampong, the sitting MP for Abetifi in the Eastern Region and a former Minister of Food and Agriculture, is making his debut in the party’s presidential race. Dr Bawumia, who served as Vice-President and was the NPP’s presidential candidate in the 2024 general elections, is also seeking the party’s nod for a second time after winning the 2023 primary. Dr Adutwum, the MP for Bosomtwe in the Ashanti Region, is contesting the presidential primaries for the first time.
Addressing the gathering during the signing ceremony, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong said the agreement reinforces the party’s commitment to a transparent, fair and peaceful internal election.
“The peace pact ensures that all candidates actively participate at every stage and accept the results of the January 31 primaries. It also commits all aspirants to maintain party cohesion and support the winner in the 2028 general elections,” Mr Kodua Frimpong said.
Under the terms of the pact, the aspirants acknowledged that the primary process has been transparent, inclusive and fair, with equal opportunities provided to all candidates. They pledged to accept the outcome of the elections as a valid and binding expression of the will of the party’s delegates.
The agreement further binds the aspirants to promote peace and unity within the party before, during and after the primaries. They also committed to refraining from actions or rhetoric that could undermine party cohesion and reaffirmed their loyalty to the NPP regardless of the outcome.
On post-primary collaboration, the pact states that all candidates will work diligently to support the eventual flagbearer, not only in the 2028 general elections but also in efforts to secure a strong parliamentary majority for the party.
Any disputes arising from the agreement will be resolved through the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms in line with the NPP constitution.
