By Daniel Bampoe
A fierce internal contest is quietly shaping up within the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a number of high-profile figures position themselves for the influential role of 1st National Vice Chairman ahead of the party’s next national delegates conference.
The emerging race reflects not only a contest of personalities, but also a deeper struggle over the party’s future direction, regional balance, and control of its grassroots machinery following its 2024 electoral defeat.
The position, widely regarded as one of the most strategic within the party’s national executive structure, plays a critical role in internal coordination, mobilization, and shaping party strategy.
Historically, the office has served as a springboard for greater influence within the NPP hierarchy, particularly in periods of opposition when internal reorganization becomes crucial.
Among the leading contenders is Alhaji Masawudu Osman, popularly known as Chairman Buga Buga, who currently serves as the 3rd National Vice Chairman of the party.
Elected during the NPP’s National Delegates Conference on July 17, 2022, with an impressive 2,128 votes, Osman has built his political brand around grassroots engagement and Northern inclusion.
His campaign is expected to lean heavily on his reputation as a mobilizer and a voice for Northern party members, a demographic he has consistently argued deserves stronger recognition within the party’s power structure.
Also entering the race is Henry Nana Boakye, widely known as Nana B, the party’s current National Organizer.
A lawyer by profession, Nana B has risen through the ranks of the NPP, having previously served as National Youth Organizer between 2018 and 2022.
During that period, he was credited with energizing the party’s youth base ahead of the 2020 general elections. His experience extends beyond party politics into public service, having served as Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority, and he currently chairs the National Food Buffer Stock Company.
His deep involvement in election operations and legal affairs—particularly as part of the party’s legal team during the 2020 presidential election petition—positions him as a formidable contender with strong institutional backing.
However critics believed that he fumbled in his current role as National Organiser hence running away from that position.
Another heavyweight in the contest is Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, a seasoned politician, academic, and former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority.
His political résumé includes serving as Minister for Information and later as Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
A long-standing party loyalist, Dr. Abdul-Hamid was the NPP’s first elected National Youth Organizer and served as spokesperson to Akufo-Addo for nearly a decade.
His intellectual background as a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, combined with his experience in governance, gives him a unique blend of academic and political appeal.
In a notable development, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, former Member of Parliament for Krowor and ex-Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, has also emerged as a contender.
With over two decades of experience at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture prior to entering Parliament, she represents a technocratic and gender-diverse option in the race.
However, her defeat in the 2020 parliamentary elections to Agnes Naa Momo Lartey of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) may pose questions about her current electoral strength within party ranks.
Businessman and party activist Bright Essilfie-Kumi is also in contention, bringing with him a strong grassroots empowerment message.Having previously contested for the National Organizer position in 2022, Essilfie-Kumi is positioning himself as a candidate capable of bridging the gap between the party’s base and its national leadership.
Perhaps the most controversial figure in the race is Kwadwo Bamba, widely known for his leadership of the Delta Force, a pro-NPP vigilante group based in the Ashanti Region.
Though the group was disbanded following the passage of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, Bamba has since transitioned into formal party structures, having served as Deputy National Operations Director for the party’s youth wing and played roles in campaign security operations.
Rounding out the list is Samuel Pyne, former Mayor of Kumasi and a long-time party strategist in the Ashanti Region, widely considered the NPP’s electoral stronghold.
Sam Pyne’s political journey—from assemblyman to Ashanti Regional Secretary and later Metropolitan Chief Executive—underscores his deep roots in both local governance and party organization.
His influence in the Ashanti Region could prove decisive in a delegates-based election.
While the field appears crowded and competitive, the ultimate outcome will depend on several critical factors: control of the grassroots delegate base, regional alliances, financial strength, and the ability to unify factions within the party following internal divisions.
At this stage, it is too early to conclusively determine who holds a clear lead.
However, insiders suggest that candidates like Nana B, Masawudu Osman, and Dr. Abdul-Hamid may currently enjoy stronger visibility and structural advantages within the party hierarchy.
That said, NPP internal elections have historically produced surprises, often driven by last-minute alliances and shifting grassroots sentiments.
