With the New Patriotic Party (NPP) edging closer to its January 31, 2026, presidential primaries, all five aspirants in the race have formally committed themselves to party unity and peaceful competition by signing a peace pact aimed at safeguarding cohesion before and after the contest.
The agreement binds the contenders to respect the outcome of the primaries and rally behind the eventual winner as the party prepares for the 2028 general elections.
The aspirants who endorsed the pact are former Vice-President and 2024 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; former Assin Central MP, Mr Kennedy Agyapong; Abetifi MP and former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong; Bosomtwe MP and former Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum; and former NPP General Secretary and Presidential Press Secretary, Mr Kwabena Agyepong.
While the pact was signed by the five aspirants, the contest itself reflects a blend of experience and fresh ambition. Mr Kwabena Agyepong is making his third attempt at the NPP flagbearership, having previously contested in 2007 and 2023. Mr Kennedy Agyapong, who placed second in the 2023 primaries, is seeking the nod for the second consecutive time.
Dr Bawumia, who won the 2023 primaries and led the party into the 2024 elections, is also making a return bid, while Dr Bryan Acheampong and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum are entering the flagbearership race for the first time.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong said the peace pact was designed to strengthen internal democracy and prevent post-primary divisions that could undermine the party’s electoral fortunes.
He explained that the agreement obliges all aspirants to fully participate in the process, accept the results of the primaries, and work collectively to position the NPP strongly for the 2028 polls.
Under the terms of the pact, the aspirants acknowledged that the primary process has been transparent, inclusive, and fair, with equal opportunity extended to all contestants. They further pledged to refrain from conduct or language that could inflame tensions or weaken party solidarity.
Beyond the presidential race, the aspirants also committed to supporting efforts to secure a robust parliamentary majority in 2028.
Any breaches of the pact, the agreement states, will be addressed through the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms in accordance with the NPP constitution.
The peace pact is seen by party observers as a strategic move to contain internal rivalry and ensure that the outcome of the primaries strengthens rather than fractures the party ahead of the next general elections.
