BY Daniel Bampoe
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly condemned remarks made by a disputed traditional leader from Akvem Asuom, accusing him of unfairly targeting the party’s five presidential aspirants ahead of the 2026 flagbearer primaries.
The controversy stems from comments by Nana Boadi Amponim Obo-Dade III, a disputed Krontihene of Asuom, who on December 7, 2025, publicly criticized the quality of leadership among the NPP hopefuls.
Nana Boadi described the five aspirants as “sankwas,” suggesting they lack the character and leadership capacity to govern Ghana.
He also contrasted them unfavorably with past NPP luminaries such as JB Danquah, Victor Owusu, Kofi Abrefa Busia, Professor Adu-Boahen, B.J. da Rocha, Peter Ala Adjetey, and former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
According to him, the current aspirants fall short of the standards set by these historical figures.
In response, the NPP’s Kade Constituency Secretary, Kofi Abrefa Busia, labeled Nana Boadi’s comments as “derogatory, disparaging, offensive, and vituperative.”
The party pointed out that the disputed Amankrado, who also serves as Chairman of the Ghana Commodity Exchange Board, has a long history of electoral defeats and lacks the credibility to pass judgment on the party’s leadership.
According to the statement, Ringold contested as an independent parliamentary candidate in 2008, joined the CPP and lost again, and later tried his luck in the NDC parliamentary primaries in 2016 without success.
The party’s statement further emphasized that the attacks are “reckless, unwarranted, unguarded, and misguided,” stressing that the aspirants have built their reputations through service, integrity, and achievement, without resorting to manipulation or deception.
It also highlighted that respected chiefs do not speak in such disparaging terms, noting that Ringold’s remarks do not reflect the longstanding mutual respect between the NPP and traditional authorities in the Okyeman Kingdom.
The NPP aspirants targeted by the comments are former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong; Abetifi MP and former Minister for Agriculture Dr. Bryan Acheampong; former Vice President and 2024 presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; Bosomtwe MP and former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum; and former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.
The party’s flagbearer primaries are scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026.
