By Bright Philip Donkor
A former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has cautioned that divisive campaign and the denigration of opponents by the five flagbearer aspirants could fracture the party, and hurt its chances in the 2028 general elections. He stressed that while internal competition is expected, it must not be allowed to undermine the unity and image of the NPP.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Daily Statesman, Mr. Boadu urged aspirants to conduct their campaigns with respect and maturity. He reminded them that while internal competition is natural, it should never come at the expense of the very party that will ultimately carry the victor into the 2028 national contest.
“For people to contest, it is obvious that you will not get the same level of energy. Candidates will not be openly acknowledging the achievements of their opponents. However, what must be kept in mind is that whoever among the five presidential hopefuls emerges victorious will be on the ticket of the party. If we denigrate one another to the point where it becomes difficult for the eventual winner to be accepted as our candidate, then nobody wins the 2028 elections,” he stated.
Preserving NPP
Mr. Boadu, who is expected to contest the NPP National Chairman position, described the party as a “vehicle” that must be preserved at all cost. He noted that none of the five aspirants, regardless of their popularity or personal vision, can win the elections on his own strength.
Instead, he stressed, their success will rest on the shoulders of the party’s legacy, achievements, and structures. “Whoever wins will ultimately campaign on the foundation of the NPP, not on their personal strength alone. If we undermine that foundation, then on what basis can we turn around and tell Ghanaians that the NPP has achieved this or that?” he asked.
He urged the aspirants to understand that differences, factions, and rivalries are natural in any competition, but they must not be allowed to erode the credibility of the party.
“Anything that damages the image of the NPP—or of those who have represented it at any point—should be avoided,” he warned.
The former General Secretary, who has seen the party through several bruising internal contests, expressed confidence that the race would not endanger the NPP’s cohesion. He pointed out that the five aspirants are all well-known figures within the party, with long-standing ties to its grassroots and leadership. In his view, their knowledge of the party’s traditions should guide them to put unity above ambitions.
Mindful words
He further cautioned the various supporters of flagbearer aspirants to be mindful of their words and actions. He reminded them that they would still need to rally behind the eventual flagbearer once the contest is over.
“The same advice extends to their supporters: they must remember that, whatever happens, they are not leaving the Party. Regardless of the outcome, they will remain part of the NPP. Therefore, they should not engage in actions that will make it difficult for them to return to work for the Party after the primaries. I believe all of them are aware of this responsibility,” he added.
Best wishes
Mr. Boadu extended his best wishes to all five presidential aspirants of the party as they prepare to contest the upcoming flagbearer primaries slated for January 31, 2026.
According to him, the contest represents not only a test of individual ambition, but also a reaffirmation of the party’s strong democratic traditions.
He noted that each aspirant brings a unique vision, wealth of experience, and energy to the table, reflecting the breadth and diversity of thought within the NPP.
“May their campaigns be conducted with dignity, their supporters remain peaceful, and their visions enrich the democratic conversation within our party and our country,” he reiterated.
Mr. Boadu further emphasised that though only one candidate would eventually emerge victorious to lead the NPP into the 2028 general elections, all five aspirants had already made significant contributions to deepening the democratic spirit of the party.
He expressed hope that the will of the delegates would prevail and that the party would emerge from the primaries more united, more focused, and better positioned to serve Ghana come 2028.
The challenge
All five presidential hopefuls, namely Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Agyapong, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and Ing. Kwaben Agyei Agyepong, have met the challenge head-on, submitting their forms neatly within the stipulated one-month window, with the final deadline landing on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
According to the Party, vetting of the aspirants will take place from September 15 to 22, 2025, while the recommendations of the vetting committee will be submitted to the National Council (NC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC) on September 29, 2025. Any aggrieved aspirants could submit a petition between September 30 to October 3, 2025, for the NEC and the NC to look into any petition on October 7, 2025.
The names of qualified aspirants will be published on October 8, 2025, with balloting for positions set for October 10, 2025. The party will publish the notice of poll on October 17, 2025, with the election fixed for January 31, 2026. And in the event of a run-off, the party has set February 14, 2026, for that person.
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