BY Daniel Bampoe
The internal contest ahead of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) January 31, 2026 presidential primaries has taken a tense and confrontational turn, following a series of incendiary comments by former District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) Administrator, Irene Naa Torshie Addo.
Her recent remarks on religion and tribal identity—targeted at former Vice President and leading contender, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia—have triggered widespread condemnation from party leaders, former appointees, and civil society voices.
Naa Torshie, now a visible campaign surrogate for Kennedy Agyapong, told NPP delegates in Bibiani during her tour that Bawumia’s Muslim faith and northern background make him an unsuitable flagbearer for the NPP going into the 2028 general elections.
According to her, the Christian majority “will not vote for him,” adding that her own church women’s fellowship had told her they would reject the NPP at the polls if Bawumia becomes the candidate.
She further claimed that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s alleged involvement in northern chieftaincy matters contributed to the NPP’s loss in the 2024 elections, insisting the party risks repeating the same if delegates endorse him again.
Her comments represent a dramatic departure from her earlier position.
In 2024, Naa Torshie openly endorsed Dr Bawumia after he became the NPP’s presidential candidate, while also lobbying intensely to be named his running mate.
When Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Napo) was chosen over her, she reportedly felt betrayed and soon shifted her political allegiance to Kennedy Agyapong.
She reportedly paid some pastors to work against Dr Bawumia in the 2024 general elections. Prophecies circulating within the party that she could become Kennedy Agyapong’s running mate should he win the 2026 primaries have strengthened her new political posture—and escalated her public attacks on Bawumia.
Critics Fire Back: “This Is Desperation, Not Strategy”
Naa Torshie’s remarks have provoked sharp criticism from within the NPP and beyond.
Party communicators and activists dismissed her assertions as politically reckless and dangerous for a secular, multi-faith country like Ghana.
One critic enumerated a series of questions highlighting the flawed basis of her argument:
Was it the church that voted against her during her last two failed parliamentary primaries?
Was it the church that rejected Akufo-Addo in the 2008 and 2012 elections?
Was it the church that voted for Akufo-Addo in 2016, or Ghanaians in general?
Did the church vote against John Mahama in 2016 and 2020 but vote for him again in 2024, or was it the Ghanaian electorate?
The critic accused her of “political immaturity” and warned that she is fast becoming “the least respected figure in the party.”
Alfred Obeng Joins the Anti-Bawumia Chorus—And Gets Exposed
On the same campaign platform, the former Managing Director of BOST, Alfred Obeng Boateng also attacked Dr Bawumia, claiming he spent over US$2 million on Akuo-Addo/Bawumia’s 2016 campaign team with “nothing to show for it.”
He accused the team of hijacking job opportunities at the top and sidelining loyalists.
But insiders quickly hit back, recounting Alfred Obeng’s troubled history within the NPP government.
Critics say Alfred Obeng created multiple scandals during his tenure as Managing Director of BOST, including the infamous Movenpina fuel contamination scandal, which embarrassed the entire government.
They argue: he fought with his then sector minister, Boakye Agyarko, and nearly every CEO in the energy sector.
He clashed with transporters, party activists, and deputy ministers.
Bawumia personally intervened several times to prevent his dismissal.
His eventual removal was due to misconduct—not Bawumia’s influence.
Insiders further revealed that Dr Bawumia once helped Obeng financially to retrieve the title deed of a property he had prematurely relinquished to Kennedy Agyapong after accepting part payment.
They also stated that Alfred Obeng received more campaign logistics than any other parliamentary candidate in 2024.
Critics say his sudden antagonism toward Dr Bawumia is rooted in entitlement and personal grievances—not ideology.
Open Letter to Naa Torshie: “You Are Weaponising Religion”
In a strongly worded open letter, party communicator Lawuratu Musah-Saaka condemned Naa Torshie’s comments as divisive, irresponsible, and dangerous. She argued that:
The NPP has never been built on religious or tribal politics.
Ghana is a secular state where leadership is earned through competence and service.
Christians and Muslims coexist peacefully, and voters do not choose leaders based on faith.
Using religion to attack a fellow party member violates the spirit of tolerance the NPP has championed for decades.
She challenged Naa Torshie to provide proof that her women’s fellowship truly endorsed such rhetoric, noting that no Christian group is known to promote political bigotry.
She added that Naa Torshie has benefited from the party’s inclusive system and must not destroy the very foundation that supported her rise.
The Bigger Picture: A Party at War With Itself
Naa Torshie’s fiery rhetoric, Alfred Obeng’s grievances, and the resulting counterattacks reflect deepening divisions in the NPP as the January 31, 2026 presidential primaries approach.
What began as a contest of ideas is increasingly devolving into personal attacks, old grudges, and dangerous identity politics.
However, as tensions rise, senior party members fear that the NPP risks fracturing beyond repair if influential figures continue to weaponise religion, ethnicity, and misinformation for electoral advantage.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who is contesting with four others: Dr Bryan Acheampong, Kennedy Agyapong, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and Ing. Kwabena Agyepong for the second time remains the frontrunner in the race, but the heated exchanges underscore the intensity of the internal battle.
The outcome on January 31 may define not only the party’s future—but also the tone of the political landscape leading into the 2028 general elections.
