The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is poised to conduct its presidential primary on Saturday, January 31, a crucial internal election designed to select the party’s flagbearer for the upcoming 2028 general elections. This process is deemed pivotal in shaping the party's future direction and Ghana's broader democratic landscape, especially as the party seeks recovery and unity after its defeat in the 2024 general elections.

Henry Nana Boakye, the NPP National Organiser, has affirmed the party's full preparedness to ensure a free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful contest. Speaking ahead of the election, Mr. Boakye highlighted the firm commitment of the NPP leadership to upholding the integrity of the internal contest. He attributed the smooth conduct of the preparations to the diligent work of two key party committees: the Vetting Committee, chaired by former Defence Minister Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor, and the Elections Committee, led by former Member of Parliament Joe Wise. All five presidential aspirants have reportedly expressed satisfaction with the operations and transparency maintained by these committees, which involved constant engagement and allowed aspirants to nominate representatives to participate in meetings and raise concerns.

Security arrangements for the primaries have been a significant point of emphasis. Mr. Boakye stressed that the Ghana Police Service is solely responsible for election security. He explicitly opposed any intrusion or interference from National Security, stating that the party had received intelligence about potential deployments of personnel, including non-uniformed individuals, from National Security to some voting centres. The NPP issued a release against such intervention, asserting that only the Police Service is mandated by the Presidential Elections Committee to handle security. Furthermore, based on briefings from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and his team, military support will only be requested for the Bawku enclave due to existing security challenges there, out of over 300 voting centres nationwide. Mr. Boakye also alleged that elements within National Security affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) might attempt to cause disruptions, and consequently, the NPP's own internal security personnel have been instructed to stand down to avoid confusion.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has also issued strict guidelines for delegates and supporters, cautioning against wearing campaign materials linked to any specific aspirant on election day. Fred Tetteh, Deputy Director of Research at the EC, clarified that while NPP colours are permissible, branded T-shirts, caps, or other attire of individual candidates are prohibited as it constitutes an offence against electoral guidelines. Active campaigning, including large-scale mobilisation and rallies, is also restricted on the eve and day of the elections, though house-to-house interactions remain permissible. Voting is scheduled to commence at 7:00 a.m. and conclude at 2:00 p.m.

A total of 211,849 delegates are expected to cast their ballots at 333 polling centres across the country's 276 constituencies. The NPP has released a revised list of approved voting centres, circulated to party executives, detailing polling venues in all 16 regions of Ghana, including Western, Central, Greater Accra, Volta, Eastern, Ashanti, Western North, Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, Oti, Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper West, and Upper East. Most centres are located in public schools, community centres, and police facilities, with GPS coordinates provided for accessibility.

The contest features five high-profile candidates vying for the flagbearer position: former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Assin Central Member of Parliament Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former NPP General Secretary Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Abetifi MP and former Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr. Bryan Acheampong, and Bosomtwe MP and former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum. This primary is widely anticipated to be one of the most keenly contested in the party’s history.

Amidst the preparations, strong endorsements and predictions have emerged for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Richard Nyama, a leading member of the NPP, has predicted a decisive landslide victory for Dr. Bawumia, projecting he will secure between 65 to 70 percent of delegate votes, surpassing his performance in the 2023 contest. Nyama also affirmed the party's unwavering commitment to making Dr. Bawumia President in 2028, regardless of circumstances. Samuel Abu Jinapor, MP for Damongo and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has also championed Dr. Bawumia, arguing he deserves another opportunity to lead the NPP as the party's best bet for revival. Jinapor described Bawumia as marketable, experienced, visible, a formidable campaigner with clear ideas on issues like unemployment and cost of living, possessing commendable personal integrity, and being a unifying figure capable of building a broad-based coalition for victory. He stressed that this election is a strategic decision that could either propel the NPP's revival or set it back, expressing confidence that Dr. Bawumia's momentum and vision have garnered strong party support.

Conversely, former Ghana Ambassador to the Netherlands, Dr. Tony Aidoo, has urged Kennedy Ohene Agyapong to withdraw from the race, stating that he does not meet the standards required for the presidency. Dr. Aidoo critically assessed Mr. Agyapong, citing a lack of temperament and describing him as a "braggart who lies about people," concluding that he is "not presidential material."

The Ashanti Region, a traditional stronghold of the NPP, is expected to play a decisive role in the outcome. With over 30,000 delegates, it represents one of the largest voting blocs. Historically, strong performance in Ashanti has been critical for NPP leaders, generating significant momentum and legitimacy. The decentralised voting process this year, with polls held in constituencies rather than a central location, further amplifies the importance of grassroots engagement in the region. Aspirants have intensified their efforts to connect with diverse party executives, polling station officers, and electoral area coordinators in Ashanti, appealing to priorities ranging from party unity to electability in 2028.

Aspiring National Chairman, John Boadu, has appealed for decorum, unity, and peaceful conduct throughout the primaries. He urged all aspirants, delegates, and supporters to uphold the party’s core values of discipline, fairness, unity, and respect for the rule of law. Boadu emphasized that a peaceful, transparent, and credible election will strengthen the party for its ultimate goal of securing victory in the 2028 General Elections, calling on delegates to vote responsibly in the supreme interest of the NPP.