Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
Former Minister of Education and Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosomtwe, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has declared his readiness to lead the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) into the 2028 general election, expressing confidence that delegates will choose him as the party’s flagbearer in January 2026.
Yesterday, a group of students benefiting from the Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum Foundation, accompanied by NPP supporters, picked up his nomination forms at the party’s headquarters in Accra as a gesture of support.
Speaking on their behalf, Prosper Opoku praised Dr. Adutwum’s achievements at the Ministry of Education, describing him as a leader capable of steering the country’s development across all sectors.
Addressing the media after receiving the forms, Dr. Adutwum said: “We are on track, and by the grace of God, I believe my party will vote for me and make me the flagbearer of the NPP.”
He joins a competitive race that includes former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, and former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong. The NPP presidential primaries are scheduled for January 31, 2026.
Dr. Adutwum, who served under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said his campaign would focus on unity, innovation, and transformational leadership. He stressed that winning the 2028 elections would be the start of a national renewal.
“And after that, I will be on the journey to the promised land – the land our nation has been yearning for. Ghana will become a prosperous nation that wages war against poverty and wins. Poverty and deprivation will be over,” he declared.
Outlining his vision, he said the 2028 campaign would be about building a stronger, more self-reliant nation. “From our first president to the current president, each has contributed to our progress. Yet, we still have a lot to do, and that is what an Adutwum presidency will be about,” he stated.
“My party, give me the opportunity. Provide a bridge for me to cross to the other side. And once we get to the other side of the river, we are going to meet Ghanaians and let Ghanaians know that our future is going to be better than the present and the past,” he added.
In an exclusive interview with the DAILY GUIDE during the NPP’s National Conference at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, Dr. Adutwum pledged to run a clean campaign. “My campaign will be based on unity and positive engagement. I will not attack any contender, and my team will avoid negative campaigning. That will help bring everyone together after the contest,” he said, warning that divisive tactics risk leaving lasting bitterness.
He positioned himself as a bridge between generations, with a particular appeal to young voters. “Gen Zs, I’m here, and we’re here to work together. Your issues will be my issues,” he told delegates.
Drawing on his 26 years in the United States, where he founded New Designs Charter Schools and secured Wall Street funding to expand quality education, earning U.S. Congressional recognition, he said education reform must be the foundation of economic growth.
Citing China, Singapore, and South Korea, he argued that industrialisation follows strategic investment in education, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). He promised to expand STEM and technical training, link education to industrialisation, modernise agriculture, improve healthcare, and promote good governance.
“When the time comes, I will step forward as a unifying leader with new ideas to take Ghana forward,” he concluded, urging delegates and the Ghanaian public to rally behind his vision.
By Ernest Kofi Adu