As Delegates Head for Kumasi Showdown
By Gifty Boateng
The opposition New Patriotic Party is bracing for a political brawl Saturday at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, where delegates will elect national officers for the next four years and decide whether Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia should formally run the whole show.
A proposal to make the already-elected flagbearer the substantive leader of the party has set off alarm bells.
Supporters call it a no-brainer for unity and command. Critics call it a last-minute power grab that would turn the yet-to-be-elected national chairman into a “white elephant” or persona non grata.
The chairmanship race alone is a heavyweight fight.
Boakye Agyarko, John Boadu and Paul Afoko a former national chairman who was booted from office are said to be front-runners. Agyarko, the former energy minister, is tipped to win.
But party insiders whisper he’s a strong, independent thinker who may not do Bawumia’s bidding.
That fear is driving the push to crown Bawumia party leader, sources say.
Insiders claim the move is designed to avoid a repeat of the old Akufo-Addo-versus-national-chairman wars that rocked the NPP more than a decade ago when it was in opposition.
There’s also buzz that Bawumia has positioned Nana Akomea, a former MP for Okaikoi South, in the First National Vice Chairmanship slot as a fallback just in case Agyarko wins and turns out to be “another Afoko.”
Proponents aired their case on a Kumasi radio interview, arguing the change would give the party clearly defined leadership, unity of command and effective direction as it gears up for the 2028 general election.
They say keeping the national chairman as party head creates dual power centres a recipe for confusion and friction.
In advanced democracies, they argue, the flagbearer is the recognised face and leader.
One concerned member said the change would let the presidential candidate shape the campaign strategy, message and team while aligning responsibility with accountability.
Another said it would prevent internal conflicts and make all structures pull in one direction. Delegates were urged to adopt the amendment.
Political analyst Dr. Samuel Afriyie, a senior lecturer at Kumasi Technical University, backs the idea.
“For stronger party cohesion, especially going into elections, the flagbearer should lead the party,” he said. “If you look at the NDC, that system is working for them.”
He added that the national chairman can hold the fort when there is no flagbearer.
“The National Chairman can hold the fort until a flagbearer is elected,” he said.
Other amendments on the table include restoring the President to the National Steering Committee; appointing additional vice-chairpersons at national, regional and constituency levels; appointing deputy regional and constituency communication officers; making the offices of first, second and third vice-chairpersons distinct elective positions; allowing all card-bearing members to serve as delegates in presidential and parliamentary primaries; and adding IT officers to regional and constituency executive structures.
Meanwhile, the ruling National Democratic Congress isn’t sitting still.
It will open nominations for its 2026 Regional Executive Elections on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026.
In a Sept. 29 statement, the party said the exercise is part of its general timetable released Aug. 5, 2026. It urged interested members to grab the nomination period and finish within the prescribed timeframe.
“This marks an important stage in the party’s electoral process,” the statement said.
Payments for nomination forms and filing fees must be made exclusively through the party’s online portal, forms.ghanandc.com, using Mobile Money on all networks or Visa and MasterCard. Bank payments and bank drafts will not be accepted.
Aspirants, proposers, seconders and endorsers must all be members in good standing who have fully paid their dues. Members with outstanding dues were told to settle through *92025# or the party’s online dues platform.
The NDC also called for discipline, decorum and respect for its democratic values and urged a transparent, peaceful and orderly regional election.
For the NPP, Saturday’s conference is about more than officers. It’s about who really runs the party the flagbearer or the chairman.
And in Kumasi, the knives are already out.