The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially scheduled its presidential primaries for Saturday, January 31, 2026. This significant decision, which sets the stage for the selection of the party’s flagbearer for the 2028 general elections, was taken by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and subsequently approved by the National Council, following recommendations from the Constitution Review Committee.

Following this announcement, concerns have been raised and suggestions made that the chosen date was intended to favour former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also a hopeful for the 2028 presidential candidacy. These claims have been met with strong rebuttals from key figures within the party.

Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide and Director of Communications for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has firmly dismissed these allegations. Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Aboagye asserted that Dr. Bawumia is prepared for the internal contest regardless of the selected date. He emphasized that for Dr. Bawumia, who has navigated such processes multiple times, the timing of the primary is not a concern regarding what might favour or disadvantage him. Instead, his focus remains steadfast on engaging party delegates with his message of forward-looking leadership.

Aboagye further defended the National Executive Council's authority, noting that the party’s constitution empowers it to determine such timelines for internal elections. He stressed that the upcoming primaries offer all aspirants, including Dr. Bawumia, an equal number of days to present their case to the party delegates and articulate why they believe they are the best leader to lead the NPP into the 2028 elections, and indeed, to govern Ghana as a whole.

Corroborating this stance, Justin Frimpong Kodua, the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, also rejected claims that the party’s upcoming presidential primaries are being structured to favour Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia or any particular candidate. In an interview on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Kodua expressed his surprise at such notions, stating, “I will be very surprised for anyone to think that an election that is yet to be conducted will favour a particular candidate.”

Kodua rigorously defended the party’s internal election structure, highlighting that its electoral processes have consistently remained democratic over the years. He cited the party’s electoral history, noting that from 1992 through 2000, a significant percentage, often between 70% and 80%, of current executives retained their positions across all levels, from national to polling stations. He underscored that the sequence of internal elections, regardless of whether they commence at the polling station level or the national level, does not create an advantage for any specific aspirant, as current executives will continue in their roles.