BY DANIEL BAMPOE
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is set to elect a new team of national officers as the party holds its National Annual Delegates Conference and National Officers’ Elections on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The elections come at an important point in the NPP’s internal reorganisation following its defeat in the 2024 general election, with the new national officers expected to lead the party’s rebuilding efforts and preparations towards the 2028 general election.
A total of 47 aspirants were cleared after the party’s four-day vetting exercise conducted from August 31 to September 3. They were cleared to contest nine categories of national executive positions. Because the Vice-Chairperson contest produces three officeholders—First, Second and Third Vice-Chairpersons—the nine categories translate into 11 elected national offices.
However, the field has subsequently changed. National Youth Organiser Salam Mustapha withdrew from the National Organiser contest on September 9, citing circumstances beyond his control. The withdrawal reduced the National Organiser field from eight to seven. The final ballot also reflected other changes in some races, leaving 45 candidates on the final list.
Chairmanship: 4 For The Top Job
The National Chairmanship contest has emerged as one of the most closely watched races, with four experienced party figures seeking to replace Stephen Ayesu Ntim, who is not seeking another term.
Former General Secretary John Boadu occupies number one on the ballot, followed by former Greater Accra Regional Chairman Sammy Crabbe at number two, former National Chairman Paul Afoko at number three and former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko at number four. The four candidates have different histories within the NPP and represent distinct periods of the party’s organisational development.
John Boadu is a long-serving NPP organiser who previously occupied the positions of National Organiser and General Secretary. His campaign has emphasised organisational experience, party unity and his longstanding relationship with the party’s leadership and grassroots structures.
Sammy Crabbe, a former Greater Accra Regional Chairman and former Second Vice Chairman of the party, brings several years of experience within the national and regional structures of the NPP. His candidature places another experienced party administrator in the contest.
Paul Afoko is a former National Chairman of the NPP who previously served at the highest levels of the party before his tenure became associated with a major internal dispute. His return to the national chairmanship contest has consequently placed issues of reconciliation, party unity and the treatment of former factions among the issues surrounding his campaign.
Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko, a former Energy Minister and longtime NPP figure, has also entered the race with a message centred on rebuilding the party, strengthening grassroots structures and preparing the organisation for the 2028 elections. He has previously served the party in campaign and policy roles and has been campaigning across all 16 regions.
Recent polling has produced different measurements of the race. For example, a Global InfoAnalytics survey reported John Boadu on 48 percent and Boakye Agyarko on 38 percent, with Paul Afoko on 12 percent and Sammy Crabbe on two percent. Those figures are survey findings rather than election results, and the actual winner will only be known after voting and counting.
General Secretary: 4 Experienced Figures
Four candidates are contesting the General Secretary position: Sylvester Tetteh, Eugene Boakye Antwi, Justin Kodua Frimpong and Dr Charles Dwamena.
Sylvester Tetteh, a former Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfro, is bringing parliamentary and party organisational experience to the race.
Eugene Boakye Antwi, a former Member of Parliament for Subin, is another experienced political figure in the contest and has presented himself as a candidate for organisational renewal.
Incumbent General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, popularly known as JFK, is seeking another term after serving as the party’s chief administrator during a period that included the 2024 general election and the subsequent reorganisation.
Dr Charles Dwamena, current National Treasurer completes the four-way contest and is also seeking the mandate to influence the party’s administrative and organisational direction. The ballot order places Sylvester Tetteh first, Eugene Boakye Antwi second, Justin Kodua third and Dr Charles Dwamena fourth.
Vice-Chairperson: 13 Candidates, 3 Offices
The Vice-Chairperson race has the largest field, with 13 candidates competing for three positions.
The aspirants are Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Kojo Bamba, Kwabena Abankwah Yeboah, Richard Ahiagbah, Masawood Mohammed, Oti Aboagye, Abena Pokuaah Amoah Boaitey, Obaa Yaa Amponsah Frimpong, Henry Nana Boakye, Horma Akesie Miezah, Sam Pyne, Nana Akomea and Bright Essilfie.
The field includes several nationally known party figures. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, a former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority and former Minister, is seeking a national executive position after years of public service. Richard Ahiagbah, the party’s Communications Director, is also contesting, bringing experience from the party’s communications machinery.
Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, is the incumbent National Organiser and is seeking to move into the Vice-Chairmanship. Sam Pyne, former Mayor of Kumasi, is another experienced party administrator in the race, while Nana Akomea, a former Communications Director and chairman of the party’s Communications Committee, also brings a long history of public communication and party work.
The other contenders—Kojo Bamba, Kwabena Abankwah Yeboah, Masawood Mohammed, Oti Aboagye, Abena Pokuaah Amoah Boaitey, Obaa Yaa Amponsah Frimpong, Horma Akesie Miezah and Bright Essilfie—complete a field representing different professional, regional and organisational backgrounds.
National Organiser: 7 Remain After Salam Withdrawal
The National Organiser contest originally attracted eight candidates, but the withdrawal of Salam Mustapha reduced the field to seven. The remaining candidates are Kwame Prempeh, Agyenim Boateng, Archibald Gamor Korletey, Nana Kwadjo Agyei Yeboah, Ali Maiga Halidu, Emmanuel Korsi Bordja and Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover.
Titus Glover, a former Member of Parliament for Tema East and former Greater Accra Regional Minister, brings parliamentary and regional administrative experience to the contest.
Kwame Prempeh, Agyenim Boateng, Archibald Gamor Korletey, Nana Kwadjo Agyei Yeboah, Ali Maiga Halidu and Emmanuel Korsi Bordja have each campaigned on strengthening the party’s grassroots and organisational machinery.
Salam Mustapha, who had been serving as National Youth Organiser, withdrew before the balloting exercise. In his withdrawal statement, he said his decision was difficult because of the support he had received from party members, delegates, colleagues and well-wishers, but said he remained committed to the NPP and its electoral objectives.
National Youth Organiser: Six In The Race
The six candidates seeking to lead the NPP’s youth wing are Alfred Kumi Ababio, Vera Oye Bram-Larbi, Michael Osei Boateng, Abanga Fuseini Yakubu, Clement Opoku Gyamfi and Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei Asamoah.
Their contest is taking place against the backdrop of the party’s wider effort to strengthen its youth structures and reconnect with younger members ahead of the next general election. The candidates have campaigned around issues including youth participation, grassroots mobilisation, training and the role of young people in the party’s future organisational structure.
National Women’s Organiser
The National Women’s Organiser race has been reduced to two candidates on the final ballot: Hajia Safia Mohammed and Mavis Hawa Koomson. Hawa Koomson is a former Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and a former Member of Parliament, giving her considerable experience in government and party politics.
Safia Mohammed is also a longstanding party figure contesting to lead the NPP’s women’s wing.
The women’s organiser position will be particularly significant to the party’s grassroots mobilisation strategy, given the role played by women’s structures in constituency and regional organisation.
National Treasurer
Four candidates are contesting the National Treasurer position: Hajia Ruka Ahmed, Alfred Kojo Thompson, Tahiru Moomen and Collins Nuntwiri Nuamah. The treasurer will be responsible for an important part of the party’s financial administration at a time when the NPP is seeking to rebuild its structures and strengthen its organisational capacity.
The race therefore places financial management, accountability and resource mobilisation among the responsibilities that will confront the eventual officeholder.
Nasara Organiser
Five candidates are contesting the National Nasara Organiser position: Alhaji Ali Suraj, Isaka Muazo Kunata, Awal Mohammed, Alhaji Salim Bamba and Razak Tahiru Maiga. The Nasara structure is responsible for engaging and organising Zongo members and supporters within the party. The contest therefore involves candidates seeking to lead an important wing of the NPP’s grassroots and community engagement machinery.
National Communications Director
Dennis Miracles Aboagye is returning unopposed for National Communications Director.
Aboagye has served in several communication and political roles within the NPP and was spokesperson for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s 2024 presidential campaign.
He previously served as Municipal Chief Executive for Akuapem North. He entered the race promising to strengthen the party’s communications structures and improve the coordination of its messaging ahead of future elections.
The communications position became a one-candidate contest following the withdrawal of other aspirants during the electoral process. The final ballot lists Aboagye as the sole candidate.
Kumasi Prepares For The NPP’s Biggest Internal Test
With the campaigns now reaching their final stage, Kumasi has become the centre of the NPP’s internal political activity. Aspirants have been engaging delegates, appearing on media platforms and holding meetings as they make their final appeals before voting.
The election will be conducted at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, with the Electoral Commission supervising the process. The NPP’s National Officers Elections Committee, chaired by Frederick Opare-Ansah, has been responsible for organising the exercise.
The committee has outlined arrangements involving multiple voting centres to manage the large number of delegates expected at the stadium. Reports indicate that more than 7,100 delegates are expected to participate, with the party working with the Electoral Commission to verify eligible voters and organise the polling process.
Delegates are required to appear on the official register and present an accepted identification document, including a Voter ID card, Ghana Card or NPP party card. Voting is scheduled to begin after the consideration of constitutional amendments at the conference.The NPP has said the elections are part of its broader re-organisation ahead of the 2028 general election.
The new officers will inherit responsibility for rebuilding the party’s structures, strengthening its grassroots organisation, managing internal relations and preparing the party for its next national electoral campaign.
The final outcome will be determined by the delegates at Baba Yara Sports Stadium after the ballots are cast, counted and officially declared.
