Story: Collins Agyemang
The largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has elected former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s standard bearer for 2028 general elections.
Dr Bawumia’s victory was confirmed by Electoral Commission (EC) officials at the party’s headquarters after the collation of results from all the 277 constituencies across the country in a presidential primary held on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Dr Bawumia polled 110,643, representing 56.48 per cent of the total valid votes cast.
“The New Patriotic Party constitution indicates that for a candidate to be elected a presidential candidate, that person must obtain more than 50% of the total valid votes cast.
“On the basis of this result, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia obtained 56.48%. Therefore, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has been duly elected presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party for the 2028 elections”, the EC officials said.
The EC officials said, a total of 196,462 votes were cast nationwide, out of which 561 ballots were rejected.
The results showed that former Assin Central Member of Parliament Kennedy Ohene Agyapong placed second with 46,554 votes, representing 23.76 per cent. Former Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Bryan Acheampong secured 36,303 votes, equivalent to 18.53 per cent.
Former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum obtained 1,999 votes, representing 1.02 per cent, while former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyapong polled 402 votes, accounting for 0.21 per cent.
More than 211,000 delegates cast their ballots at over 300 polling centres across the country in what party officials described as a keenly contested internal race.
Dr Bawumia faced competition from four other aspirants: former Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Bryan Acheampong; former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum; former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyapong; and businessman and former Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
The primaries were conducted across all 16 regions of Ghana, with delegates voting to select the candidate to lead the NPP’s bid to reclaim power in the 2028 general elections.
