By Issah Olegor
Former Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Mavis Hawa Koomson has formally entered the contest for the position of National Women’s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), pledging to build a more organised and aggressive women’s wing capable of helping the party return to power in the 2028 general elections.
Hawa Koomson announced this after meeting former Vice President and NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia at the party’s ongoing internal reorganisation.
According to a statement issued by Hawa Koomson, she and members of her campaign team visited Dr Bawumia shortly before she proceeded to the NPP headquarters to submit her nomination.
During the meeting, she formally communicated her decision to contest for the National Women Organiser position, placing her campaign within the broader leadership transition currently underway in the opposition party.
Her move comes as the NPP prepares to elect a new crop of national officers on October 3, 2026, following the party’s decision to reorganise its leadership structures ahead of the 2028 elections.
The party’s National Officers Elections Committee has opened the nomination process for aspirants seeking various national positions, including the National Women Organiser. The nomination period is scheduled to close on August 22, while the filing of completed nomination forms has been extended to August 29, 2026. Vetting is expected to take place from August 31 to September 3.
Koomson Frames Contest Around 2028 Comeback
In explaining her decision, Hawa Koomson said the NPP had reached a critical stage where the quality of its incoming leadership would have major implications for the party and the country’s political future.
She argued that the next leadership must be capable of responding to what she described as challenges facing Ghana under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
Hawa Koomson said the NPP needed to position itself to provide an alternative direction for the country and regain the confidence of voters ahead of the 2028 elections.
Her campaign therefore places particular emphasis on rebuilding the party’s internal structures and mobilising its women supporters as part of the broader strategy to return the NPP to government.
Women’s Wing Placed At Centre Of Campaign
A major feature of Koomson’s message is her emphasis on the role of the NPP Women’s Wing in the party’s political recovery.
She described the wing as fundamental to the party’s efforts to regain power but argued that it would require what she characterised as bold, assertive and courageous leadership to achieve that objective.
Hawa Koomson said her ambition goes beyond simply securing the National Women’s Organiser position.
Rather, she wants to lead the Women’s Wing into becoming a more organised and dynamic political force capable of mobilising women across the country and contributing significantly to the NPP’s electoral campaign.
Her stated objective is ultimately to help secure victory for the NPP and its presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in the 2028 presidential election.
Pledge To Build Stronger Women’s Organisation
Koomson has presented the contest as a commitment to organisational renewal rather than a personal quest for political office.
She said her focus, if elected, would be on creating a well-organised Women’s Wing equipped to contribute to the NPP’s electoral objectives.
The former minister also appealed to party members, particularly women supporters, to join her campaign and work collectively towards what she described as a brighter future for the country.
Her message comes against the backdrop of the NPP’s efforts to rebuild following its defeat in the 2024 general elections, when the party lost both the presidential election and its parliamentary majority.
The party subsequently began preparations for a new leadership structure that will be expected to oversee its reorganisation and position it for the next electoral contest.
Competitive National Executive Elections
Hawa Koomson’s entry adds to the competition for the various national executive positions as the NPP moves closer to its October elections.
The party’s electoral regulations provide for the election of the National Chairperson, National Vice Chairpersons, General Secretary, National Treasurer, National Organiser, National Women Organiser, National Youth Organiser, National Nasara Organiser and National Communication Director.
Aspirants are required to satisfy several eligibility conditions, including being known and active registered party members for at least two years, being in good standing and having paid membership dues for at least the previous two years.
They must also pay the prescribed nomination fees and satisfy the National Vetting Committee that they qualify to contest. Nomination forms must further be endorsed by at least one member in good standing from each of Ghana’s 16 regions.
Electoral calendar
The NPP’s electoral timetable originally set the filing of nomination forms from August 23 to August 27, but the National Officers Elections Committee has extended that period to August 29.
The vetting process remains scheduled for August 31 to September 3, followed by publication of the vetting results on September 5. Appeals are scheduled for September 6 and 7, with the NEC/NC meeting set for September 10.
The Notice of Poll is expected on September 14, while the election of national officers remains fixed for October 3, 2026.
The election will be conducted by the Electoral Commission of Ghana under the supervision of the party’s National Officers Elections Committee and in accordance with the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574).
