By Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA
Accra, Feb. 1, GNA – The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has congratulated Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on his victory in the party’s presidential primary, commending his “vision, intellectual rigour, and resolute commitment to Ghana’s progress.”
A statement signed by Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, said Dr Bawumia’s election “represents a clear mandate from NPP delegates to lead the party into the 2028 general elections.”
It urged party members to unite after what it described as a divisive primary, stressing that reconciliation and collective effort were essential for strengthening the party ahead of the next polls.
“Unity is not merely a political slogan but our fundamental source of strength,” the statement quoted Mr Afenyo-Markin as saying, recalling the party’s past electoral victories achieved through cohesion and solidarity.
The Minority Caucus pledged its support to Dr Bawumia’s leadership and assured him of strategic guidance from experienced Members of Parliament.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to holding the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration accountable on issues including gold reserve depletion, illegal mining (galamsey), and youth unemployment.
“We envision a Ghana post‑2028 where the Free SHS programme operates at optimal efficiency, and our economy generates widespread prosperity,” the statement added.
Dr Bawumia was elected flagbearer of the NPP on Saturday, January 31, 2026, after securing 110,643 votes, representing 56.48 per cent of the total valid ballots cast.
Mr Kennedy Agyapong, a former MP for Assin Central, came second with 46,554 votes (23.76%), while Dr Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi, placed third with 36,303 votes (18.53%).
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, MP for Bosomtwe and former Education Minister, followed in fourth place with 1,999 votes (1.02%), and Engineer Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, a former Press Secretary to President John Agyekum Kufuor, came fifth with 402 votes (0.21%).
More than 211,000 delegates participated in the primary, voting across 333 polling centres in all 275 constituencies and at the NPP headquarters.
The exercise, conducted under tight security and monitored by party officials, was widely described by observers as peaceful, credible, and largely incident‑free.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
1 February 2026
NPOL002
Politics Election Review
Ashanti Region proves decisive as Dr Bawumia secures NPP flagbearership
By Yussif Ibrahim, GNA
Kumasi, Feb. 1, GNA – Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s emphatic victory in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primaries is strongly anchored in his commanding performance in the Ashanti Region, long regarded as the party’s electoral stronghold and strategic centre of influence.
Out of the region’s 47 constituencies – the highest for any region in the country – Dr Bawumia swept an overwhelming 45, underscoring the decisive role Ashanti played in shaping the outcome of the contest.
The former Vice President lost in only two constituencies: Bosomtwe, represented by Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and Ahafo Ano South West, which went to Dr Bryan Acheampong.
Analysts say the significance of Dr Bawumia’s dominance in Ashanti cannot be overstated.
With one of the highest concentrations of delegates and constituencies, the region was widely considered the key battleground capable of determining the eventual flagbearer.
This importance was amplified by the fact that the two leading contenders – Dr Bawumia and Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong – are not natives of the Ashanti region, making the contest there a crucial test of national appeal, party cohesion, and grassroots confidence.
By clinching 45 constituencies in Ashanti, Dr Bawumia neutralised his closest competitors and secured an almost unassailable path to victory.
The landslide sent a clear signal of broad-based endorsement from party delegates, reinforcing his standing as the consensus choice.
Nationally, Dr Bawumia garnered 110,643 votes, representing 56.43 per cent of valid ballots cast, to become the NPP’s newly elected flagbearer.
His triumph reflects not only strong institutional and grassroots backing but also the success of a campaign that championed continuity and experience in governance.
As the NPP shifts focus to the upcoming general elections, the Ashanti Region’s decisive endorsement of Dr Bawumia reaffirms its long-standing influence within the party and its reputation as the ultimate kingmaker in internal contests.
The outcome of the primaries has again demonstrated that any serious contender for the NPP’s presidential ticket must secure a convincing win in Ashanti — and Dr Bawumia achieved this with authority.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
