–BY Grace Zigah
What was expected to be an ordinary engagement with party grassroots turned into a powerful political endorsement over the weekend, when constituency chairpersons of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from across the country threw their collective support behind former Energy Minister Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko to contest the National Chairman position.
The unexpected groundswell of support emerged during the NPP Constituency Chairmen Caucus Conference held in Kumasi.
Boakye Agyarko, who had attended the meeting in his capacity as a senior party statesman and potential flagbearer aspirant, was dramatically drafted by the chairmen mid-event to shift focus and rather lead the party’s executive arm into the crucial 2026 and 2028 elections.
The Moment That Shifted the Tide
While addressing the gathering on the need for unity, discipline, and renewal within the party, Boakye Agyarko was interrupted by one of the chairpersons who made an impassioned plea to him:
“The situation we are in right now, we need an experienced person to lead this party. If you can join your faith with mine, we must plead with this man [Boakye Agyarko] to contest as the national chairman,” the chairperson declared.
His statement triggered thunderous applause and chants of “National Chairman! National Chairman!” from his colleagues—an unmistakable public show of support that sent a clear signal to the party’s hierarchy.
Why Agyarko?
Boakye Agyarko is widely respected within the NPP for his ideological depth, institutional memory, and unblemished track record as a loyal party servant.
A veteran economist and former Energy Minister, he played a pivotal role as campaign manager during the NPP’s successful 2012 presidential campaign.
His longstanding commitment to the party’s Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition, along with his experience in both governance and grassroots mobilization, is seen by many as the right mix of qualities to stabilize the NPP at a time of internal tension following its defeat in the 2024 general elections.
Sources within the party say his calm temperament, broad appeal, and institutional knowledge give him an edge in a race that could shape the party’s fortunes leading into the 2028 polls.
Potential Three-Horse Race
If Agyarko accepts the endorsement and files to contest, it would set up a fierce internal battle between him and two other party heavyweights: former General Secretary John Boadu, and the current Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Interestingly, both Boadu and Wontumi were present at the Kumasi meeting where the endorsement took place.
While they did not publicly react to the development, political observers believe the spontaneous acclamation for Agyarko may force a recalibration of campaign strategies or even reconsideration of candidacies.
Party insiders also note that the endorsement from constituency chairmen — considered kingmakers in the party’s internal processes — significantly boosts Agyarko’s political capital ahead of the NPP’s National Delegates Conference.
Timing and Stakes
The NPP has scheduled its next presidential primaries for January 31, 2026.
However, the race for National Chairman is expected to be settled long before that.
The party is currently in a critical reorganization phase, trying to recover from a narrow loss in 2024 and reposition itself as a credible alternative to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Chairmen at the Kumasi conference made it clear that the party needs a steady, strategic hand at the helm — someone who commands respect across factions and can bring coherence to the fractured base.
“We are at a crossroads,” another chairman said off-record. “We can’t go into 2028 repeating the mistakes of the past. We need discipline, focus, and someone who understands this party inside and out. Boakye Agyarko is that man.”
What Next?
Agyarko, visibly moved by the endorsement, has yet to make a formal declaration, but sources at the programme said he was not too keen for that role.
Should he choose to run, his campaign is expected to focus on restoring credibility, improving internal communication, and ensuring fair, transparent processes within the party’s structures.
With the race heating up, the endorsement has already shifted the dynamics within the NPP and may well shape the tone and trajectory of its internal politics in the months ahead.
