Former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has been elected as flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after winning the party’s presidential primaries held on Saturday across the country.
He secured 110,643 votes, representing 56.48 per cent of the total valid votes cast, to defeat four other contenders in the race.
According to results announced by the Deputy Director of Electoral Services of the Electoral Commission (EC), Samuel Dottoh Kwaah, at the NPP’s Headquarters in Accra, former Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, placed second with 46,554 votes, representing 23.76 per cent.
He was followed by Dr Bryan Acheampong, a former Minister for Food and Agriculture, who garnered 36,303 votes, representing 18.53 per cent.
Former Minister for Education, Mr Yaw Osei Adutwum, polled 1,999 votes, equivalent to 1.02 per cent, while former General Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, secured 402 votes, accounting for 0.21 per cent.
Out of 196,462 votes cast, 195,901 were valid, while 561 ballots were rejected.
Addressing delegates, party officials and supporters after the declaration of the results, Dr Bawumia thanked delegates for their participation and commitment to the party’s democratic processes.
He described the contest as keenly fought and said the victory belonged to all members of the party.
He called for unity, urging party members to put aside their differences and rally behind the collective decision of delegates.
Dr Bawumia said the party must now focus on healing divisions, rebuilding its structures and restoring discipline as it prepared for the 2028 general election.
He announced plans to embark on nationwide engagements with party elders, youth groups and grassroots supporters to revitalise the party, stressing that the youth were central to the future of the NPP.
He pledged to prioritise youth involvement in shaping the party’s direction and emphasised the need for discipline in party operations, communication and conduct, noting that internal discipline was critical to winning national elections.
Dr Bawumia again urged supporters to celebrate in moderation and avoid actions that could heighten tensions within the party.
Meanwhile, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in his address, noted that the outcome of the primaries reflected strength, unity and clarity of purpose among party members.
He said the verdict had removed uncertainty and given the party an early advantage ahead of the next general election.
He added that delegates had affirmed that the eight years during which Dr Bawumia served as Vice President laid a strong foundation for the future of the party and the country.
The former President described Dr Bawumia as a leader with the vision, experience and competence to return the NPP to government and lead Ghana to greater heights.
Nana Addo indicated that the victory marked the beginning of a broader task of turning the momentum from the primaries into a nationwide movement.
He urged party members to unite across regions and constituencies and work together as a single team.
Furthermore, he noted that the party now had the longest preparation period in its history before a general election and urged members to use the time to heal wounds, reorganise party structures and strengthen the parliamentary front, particularly in constituencies without sitting Members of Parliament.
He called for an end to internal divisions and urged party officers at all levels to focus on advancing the interests of the party and securing victory in 2028.
Nana Akufo-Addo expressed confidence in Dr Bawumia’s leadership, citing his character, work ethic and loyalty to party and country.
All four other contenders in the primaries—Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, Mr Yaw Osei Adutwum and Mr Kwabena Agyei Agyepong—in separate statements, accepted the results of the election and pledged their support to Dr Bawumia and the party’s campaign ahead.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
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