The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is holding the balloting exercise today at 11:00 am at its headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, to determine the positions of its five vetted presidential aspirants on the ballot paper for the January 31, 2026 flagbearer election.
In a letter dated October 7, 2025, signed by William Yamoah, Secretary of the NPP Presidential Elections Committee, the party invited all cleared aspirants to take part in the draw after the vetting process had been completed.
The aspirants involved are: Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong
This balloting is crucial, as it will determine the numerical order of candidates on the ballot paper ahead of the NPP primary, which will decide who leads the party into the 2028 general elections.
The Contestants: Short Profiles
Below is a brief background on each of the five aspirants.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
- Former Vice President of Ghana under the Akufo-Addo administration.
- He has previously been the NPP’s presidential candidate.
- In earlier instances of NPP flagbearer contests, he has been a leading figure.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong
- Businessman and former Member of Parliament (Assin Central).
- Known for his outspoken style and large personal following within parts of the party.
- In the party’s past primaries, he has secured significant delegate support.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong
- Member of Parliament for Abetifi in the Eastern Region.
- Former Minister of Food and Agriculture (2023–2025).
- Holds a PhD in Information Systems from the University of Ghana, as well as qualifications in business, security, and intelligence.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
- MP for the Bosomtwe constituency in the Ashanti Region.
- Served as Deputy Minister for Education (2017–2021) and then substantive Minister of Education (2021–2025).
- Academic background: BSc in Land Economy / Business Administration (KNUST), M.Ed. from University of La Verne, PhD in Educational Policy, Planning & Administration from the University of Southern California (USC).
- Also founded the New Designs Charter Schools in California before returning to Ghana to serve in education roles.
Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong
- Civil engineer and politician.
- Former NPP General Secretary.
- He has been active in party politics for decades, also holding roles in past campaign cycles.
- He is the son of Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyepong, one of the judges abducted during the early years of Ghana’s PNDC era.
What to Expect Today & What’s Next
- The balloting at 11:00 am. is expected to be straightforward: each aspirant will draw a number that will determine their position on the official ballot paper.
- After today’s draw, the focus will shift to campaigns, debates, and efforts to win delegate support ahead of the primary on January 31, 2026.
- The result of the primary will decide who leads the NPP into the general election scheduled for December 2028.
