Showdown Begins as Aspirants Pick Nominations Ahead of January 31 Primaries.
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) much-anticipated presidential contest has officially shifted into high gear, with major aspirants picking up their nomination forms, a symbolic but decisive step signaling the start of the race to elect the party’s next flagbearer.
The process, which has just begun, marks the true beginning of the looming political showdown that is set to culminate on January 31, 2026, when party delegates across the nation will cast their votes.
As the stakes rise, the contest is shaping up to be a fierce battle for the heart and future of the party ahead of the 2028 general elections.
On Wednesday, August 13, the party’s headquarters in Accra was a sea of red, white, and blue as hundreds of youth organizers stormed the premises in a bold show of unity and support for former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Clad in coordinated NPP-branded attire, the youth chanted party slogans, waved flags, and sang patriotic songs as they made their way to pick up nomination forms on behalf of the man they called “their incoming president.”
The delegation, which included constituency and regional youth organizers from every corner of the country, turned the nomination process into both a political rally and a symbolic celebration.
Addressing the media, Isaac Obeng, a youth organizer, explained the significance of the day, “Yesterday was International Youth Day, and as youth organizers and deputies from various constituencies, we believe we cannot remain idle in our constituencies without marking this remarkable day,” he said.
Obeng revealed that their visit went beyond symbolism, “We are here today to pick the form for our incoming president, Insha Allah, Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia. We believe this is a gift to him.”
He emphasized that their presence reflected the deep sense of unity among the party’s youth.
“You can see here representatives of youth organizers from various constituencies who have come to pick this form, and from here we will move to his residence, his campaign office, where we will officially present the forms to him,” Obeng added.
With unshaken confidence, Obeng declared that the day could prove to be a turning point in Ghana’s political history, “We know that, Insha Allah, this day is the day Ghana’s destiny will be rewritten. What the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has done and continues to do shows that the things Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia accomplished as Vice President are exactly what our country needs.”
But Bawumia is not the only contender moving swiftly. On Tuesday, August 5, a group of NPP Members of Parliament picked up nomination forms for outspoken Assin Central MP and presidential hopeful Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
This early move has been widely interpreted as a sign of serious intent and a calculated strategy in the long road to the primaries.
The MP-led delegation included Kwaku Kwarteng, Obuasi West, Charles Forson, Tema West, Stephen Amoah, Nhyiaeso, and Lawrence Agyinsam, Hemang Lower Denkyira.
They were joined by Dr Alex Ampaabeng, a former Deputy Finance Minister in the Akufo-Addo administration, who has publicly endorsed Mr Agyapong as “the right candidate to lead both the NPP and Ghana into the future.”
Dr Ampaabeng was emphatic in his praise, “Kennedy Agyapong is Ghana’s Trump and Berlusconi, a bold, unconventional leader who can break barriers and drive change.”
Agyapong’s move is notable for another reason; he becomes the first aspirant to pick up nomination forms for the 2026 contest.
This is not his first run; he placed second to Bawumia in the 2024 flagbearer race, earning a reputation as a resilient contender with a loyal support base.
A party insider noted that as the days pass, the political lines are becoming clearer,
“The momentum is building towards January 31st. It’s becoming obvious which key figures are aligning with which major contenders. This race is going to be intense.”
With two political heavyweights already making their moves and other declared aspirants yet to collect their forms, the NPP is bracing for a campaign season that will test loyalties, strategies, and visions for Ghana’s future.
The picking of nomination forms, often seen as a mere administrative process, has once again proven to be the first shot fired in what could be a defining political battle.
When the forms are picked, the race has begun. And in the NPP, that moment is now.
By Prince Ahenkorah