Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, one of five aspirants seeking to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into the 2028 general elections, has unveiled a six-point policy covenant he says will reset Ghana’s development path and restore hope among citizens.
Speaking at the KAA for President 2028 Policy Day on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong delivered a wide-ranging address that blended history, self-reflection and policy proposals, arguing that Ghana has fallen short of the ideals envisioned at independence.
“Nearly seven decades have passed since [independence], and it’s imperative to pause and ask ourselves the painful questions. Is this it? Is this the Ghana we envisioned?” he asked.
He said the reality of high youth unemployment, persistent poverty, poor sanitation, weak public services and illegal mining – galamsey – shows that “democracy has not yielded the expected dividend”.
“This is not the Ghana our martyrs died for,” he said, adding that the country’s challenges have created “a demoralised, despondent and disillusioned population”.
Turning his focus to the NPP, Mr Agyepong admitted the party is struggling internally and needs to rediscover its purpose.
“Our party, the NPP, is not in a good place. This party sincerely needs to unite, reunite around a compelling purpose,” he said.
He urged party members to assess his plans based on their impact on the country and, on that basis, vote for him on January 31 to “lead a great elephant back to power”.
At the heart of his campaign is what he described as a “solemn covenant” with the people of Ghana, built around six policy pillars.
The first focuses on land reform, youth and modernised agriculture. Mr Agyepong promised a transparent land reform and compensation framework to cut bureaucracy, speed up land title registration and unlock capital.
“This reform will end the protracted land cases that have choked our court system and release the vast potential trapped in our arable lands,” he said.
He said the reforms would go hand in hand with youth-led environmental stewardship to reclaim degraded lands and water bodies, transitioning Ghana from subsistence farming to “modern, climate-smart agriculture”.
“We will give our youth the tools to heal our environment and make farming a noble, wealth-creating profession,” he added.
The second pillar combines urban regeneration, rural renewal and environmental protection. Mr Agyepong promised strict enforcement of planning and environmental laws, backed by “a zero-tolerance policy for indiscipline, corruption and the blatant flouting of our planning regime”.
He said restoring order would turn Ghana’s chaotic cities into livable spaces and improve livelihoods in rural communities.
“Where discipline creates the space for development, order becomes the precursor for opportunity,” he said.
On fiscal discipline and value for money, the third pillar, Mr Agyepong pledged to end waste in public spending through rigorous value-for-money audits and better project management.
“The waste must end,” he said, promising that all existing projects would be completed before new ones are started.
“There shall be no more abandoned hospitals, no more uncompleted roads.”
The fourth pillar centres on restoring meritocracy in the public service. He said promotions must be based on hard work rather than political connections, and pledged to end political patronage in state institutions.
“Merit will rule again,” he declared.
He also proposed downsizing government to 19 cabinet ministers, supported by an equal number of deputies, alongside 16 regional ministers.
In addition, he said he would consult stakeholders on capping the number of Supreme Court judges at 11 and abolishing the retirement age of 70.
“This will reduce the opportunity for presidents to pack the apex court with their favourites and restore true independence of our judiciary,” he argued.
The fifth pillar targets the informal sector, which he described as “the very soul of our economy”. Mr Agyepong proposed a simplified national trade licence regime to bring informal businesses into the formal system without harassment.
“We will not punish you with taxes. We’ll empower you with licences, protect you with the law and support you with credit,” he said.
The final pillar focuses on creative arts and sports. He pledged stronger protection for intellectual property to ensure artists benefit from their work, alongside renewed investment in grassroots sports.
“Our athletes will rise again from Colts football, from school sports to global glory,” he said, adding that soccer, athletics and boxing would be prioritised.
In closing remarks, Mr Agyepong framed the 2028 contest as a defining moment for both the NPP and the country.
“One path is familiar. It leads to more despair, more of the same that has failed us time and again. The other path I offer is the path of renewal,” he said.
He appealed directly to party delegates to “choose values over vanity, choose principles over patronage, choose character over chicanery, choose to believe again”.
“The time for a new dawn, a new direction and a new face is now,” he said.
He described the policy agenda as his “covenant with the people of Ghana”, concluding with a call for unity and a prayer for the nation.
