By Daniel Bampoe
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been officially declared the winner of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primary held on Saturday, 31 January 2026, securing a commanding 56.48 percent of the total valid votes cast.
The final declaration, made at the party’s National Headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra, confirms Dr. Bawumia as the elected flagbearer of the NPP ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The highly anticipated internal contest was widely regarded as one of the most competitive presidential primaries in the party’s history, coming at a crucial moment when the NPP is seeking to reorganise and rebuild following its defeat in the 2024 general elections.
With several heavyweight contenders entering the race, the primary became a major test of the party’s unity, grassroots strength, and future direction.
Final Results Show Clear Majority Win
According to the official national collation form released by the Returning Officer at the party headquarters, Dr. Bawumia obtained 110,643 votes, representing 56.48% of all valid ballots cast, giving him an outright victory with more than half of the total vote.
His closest challenger, former Assin Central Member of Parliament Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, secured 46,554 votes, accounting for 23.76% of the valid votes.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong followed with 36,303 votes, representing 18.53%, while former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum polled 402 votes. Veteran party figure Kwabena Agyei Agyepong recorded 199 votes, representing just 0.21% of the total.
In all, the party recorded 195,901 total valid votes, with 561 rejected ballots, bringing the total votes cast to 196,462.
Regional Breakdown Confirms Nationwide Strength
Provisional regional results showed Dr. Bawumia leading across most parts of the country, including strong performances in key NPP strongholds such as Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra, and Western Regions.
While some competitors recorded pockets of support, particularly in their home areas, the final nationwide collation confirmed that Dr. Bawumia maintained a broad and consistent advantage across the regions, reflecting strong delegate backing throughout the party’s national structures.
A Primary Shaped by Post-2024 Rebuilding Efforts
The 2026 presidential primary was held against the backdrop of intense internal reflection within the NPP after losing power in the 2024 elections.
Party members and stakeholders have since called for renewal, reorganisation, and a new strategic focus ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Dr. Bawumia’s victory positions him as the central figure expected to lead that rebuilding agenda, with party unity now becoming a key priority following the conclusion of the contest.
Official Declaration At Party Headquarters
The results were formally signed and certified by the Returning Officer at the NPP National Headquarters, with agents of the various candidates present during the collation and declaration process.
The party confirmed that the figures represent the true and accurate account of ballots cast at the national collation centre.
With the declaration complete, Dr. Bawumia now emerges as the elected presidential candidate of the NPP, tasked with uniting the party after a fiercely contested primary and preparing the political tradition for the battles ahead.
