The New Patriotic Party (NPP) peace pact, designed to ensure discipline, unity, and peaceful conduct among its presidential aspirants ahead of the January 31 primary, became the subject of significant controversy during its signing. All five aspirants eventually signed the document, which commits them to party unity, acceptance of the electoral process and its outcomes, and restraint by supporters to preserve peace.

Former Assin Central MP and NPP flagbearer aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, publicly criticized his fellow contenders, accusing them of signing the document without thoroughly reading it. He claimed that Abetifi MP Dr Bryan Acheampong mistakenly signed against his name due to a lack of careful reading.

Agyapong's primary objection centered on Clause Two, which required aspirants to accept election outcomes regardless of perceived fairness. He cited alleged irregularities from the 2023 primary, including instances where he claimed to have received zero votes or incorrect vote counts, as justification for his refusal to sign without amendments to this clause. He contrasted his 'qualification by experience' with what he perceived as a lack of scrutiny from 'PhD holders'.

Joseph Osei Owusu, Chairman of the NPP Presidential Elections Committee, initially clarified that Agyapong’s reservations were not due to errors in the document, but rather his desire for firm assurances of a free and fair electoral process. Owusu stated that all aspirants received copies of the pact days in advance for review. He explained that Agyapong specifically focused on Clause Two and his concerns about possible rigging were addressed. Owusu assured that any proven irregularities would lead to the cancellation of the election, and that the process met expectations, leading to all aspirants signing.

However, Kennedy Agyapong's spokesperson, Kwasi Kwarteng, presented an alternative explanation. Kwarteng claimed that Agyapong’s objection stemmed from the omission of a key clause that had been previously agreed upon by all aspirants. This missing provision stipulated that voting centers would also serve as collation centers, and that results from any center where security was compromised would not be counted. Kwarteng alleged that documents were not provided to the parties in advance as agreed, forcing Agyapong to review it at the venue.

He further claimed that Joseph Osei Owusu, the PEC Chairman, admitted the omission was an error and verbally assured its subsequent insertion.

Contrasting these accounts, the NPP’s Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) dismissed claims of errors in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), describing the controversy as unnecessary. The committee asserted that copies of the MoU were circulated to all aspirants, including Kennedy Agyapong, on Sunday, January 18, 2026, well ahead of the signing ceremony.

The PEC maintained that the contents were known to all prior to signing and that there was no error. They clarified that the disagreement arose from Agyapong’s demand to remove or alter Clause 2, which they deemed the most critical provision and insisted could not be tampered with. The committee urged party members to avoid actions that could project the party negatively.

Adding another layer to the narrative, Danquah Smith Buttey, Acting National Chairman of the NPP, confirmed that a 'significant typographical error' was detected in the peace pact. In an interview on Friday, January 23, Mr. Buttey stated that the phrase 'we won't accept' was mistakenly typed as 'we will accept,' fundamentally altering its meaning.

He credited Kennedy Agyapong with identifying this error and declining to sign until it was corrected. Buttey emphasized that the mistake was technical, promptly acknowledged by the party leadership, and rectified, after which the document was properly endorsed. Beyond the peace pact, Mr. Buttey also announced his decision not to contest the National Chairman position again, citing his assessment of the party's parliamentary performance during his tenure and a desire for new leadership.