By Daniel Bampoe
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially conducted the much-anticipated balloting exercise to determine the positions of its five presidential aspirants on the ballot paper for the party’s upcoming presidential primaries scheduled for January 31, 2026.
The exercise, held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the party’s national headquarters in Asylum Down, Accra, was supervised by officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) in collaboration with the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) of the NPP.
According to the results released by the Committee, the order of appearance on the ballot paper will be as follows:
1. Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong
2. Dr. Bryan Acheampong
3. H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
4. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
5. Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong
The outcome of the draw marks the official start of the final stretch toward what political observers are describing as one of the most competitive internal contests in the history of the NPP.
Transparent and Fair Process
In a statement signed by William Yamoah, Secretary to the Presidential Elections Committee, the party commended all aspirants, their representatives, and EC officials for their cooperation during the exercise.
“The Presidential Elections Committee reaffirms its unwavering commitment to transparency, fairness, and the highest democratic standards in the conduct of the Presidential primary,” the statement emphasized.
From Vetting To Balloting
The balloting follows the successful completion of the party’s vetting process, which began in September 2025 under the supervision of a committee chaired by Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, a former Minister of Defence and one of the NPP’s senior statesmen.
The vetting exercise, guided by the NPP Constitution and relevant provisions of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, assessed each aspirant’s eligibility, loyalty, competence, and commitment to the party’s ideals.
The final vetting report was submitted to the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, and subsequently reviewed by the National Council on October 7, 2025.
Following the review, all five aspirants were cleared to contest in the January primaries, setting the stage for what promises to be a keenly contested leadership race.
Who’s Who in the Race
The aspirants vying for the NPP’s presidential ticket are some of the most prominent figures within the party:
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Vice President of Ghana, is widely viewed as the frontrunner, enjoying strong support from the party hierarchy.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the outspoken former MP for Assin Central, enters the race as a grassroots favorite known for his populist appeal.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi and former Minister for Agriculture, is seen as a strong contender with deep organizational and financial resources.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, former Education Minister, brings to the race his technocratic experience and focus on education reform.
Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, a former NPP General Secretary, is banking on his long-standing service and call for unity within the party.
Next Steps in the Roadmap
The NPP’s election roadmap, released in August 2025, outlines that aspirants dissatisfied with the vetting process had an opportunity to appeal to the National Executive Committee (NEC) before the publication of the final notice of poll, which is expected on October 17, 2025.
The main congress will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at a venue yet to be announced, with a run-off scheduled for February 14, 2026, should no candidate secure the required majority in the first round.
Unity Call Ahead of 2026 Elections
Party insiders say the leadership is determined to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible internal election to preserve party unity ahead of the 2028 general elections.
