Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, has officially entered the race to become the party’s next presidential candidate, casting himself as the NPP’s most unifying and electable option ahead of the 2028 general election.
The announcement came just hours after the NPP formally opened nominations for its 2026 presidential primaries. At a brief event in Accra, Agyepong urged party delegates to resist what he described as the growing influence of money in internal contests and instead support leadership grounded in integrity and grassroots appeal.
“Politics belongs to the grassroots — the ordinary people — not to a privileged elite,” Agyepong said. “With me, the NPP has a clear path to unity and victory. We need a pair of clean hands, a clear mind and a compassionate heart to lead our nation and our party.”
Mr.Agyepong, who served as NPP General Secretary from 2014 to 2015, presented himself as a break from what he called “petty squabbles” and the “monetisation” of party politics. His remarks appeared to be a pointed critique of past internal contests, which have often been marred by factionalism and accusations of vote-buying.
In a notable overture, Agyepong also called on former presidential aspirant Alan Kyerematen — who broke ranks with the party in the run-up to the 2024 elections — to return, stating the NPP was “founded on sacrifice, not privilege.”
Several prominent figures, including former MPs such as Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, were in attendance at the declaration.
Meanwhile, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong confirmed that the nomination period will close on August 28. The party’s internal election to choose its 2028 presidential flagbearer is scheduled for January 31, 2026. Prospective candidates must pay a non-refundable filing fee of GHS100,000 (approx. $8,000).
Mr. Kodua also addressed ongoing chieftaincy-related tensions in Bawku, accusing the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of politicising the conflict. He dismissed claims linking the NPP to the violence in the region as “irresponsible.”
