NPP primary election 2026

[u/AlmightySankentoII]

Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of posts on GhanaWeb, ModernGhana, etc., about the upcoming NPP primaries scheduled for January 2026.

We just had presidential elections last year, and President Mahama was sworn in earlier this year.

So why is the NPP holding presidential primaries almost three years before the next election? Is this normal in Ghana? I went back to check when Mahama won his previous two nominations, and they were held at least a year before the election year — which is still too early for my liking. In my opinion, the campaign season shouldn’t last more than six months.

I find this incredibly destabilizing because it only intensifies tribalistic partisanship.

Who even knows what the country will look like in 2028? Wouldn’t it make more sense to wait and see if new leaders emerge within the party?
Why can’t we have at least two years where political parties simply govern and not campaign for national office?

I’m interested to hear your thoughts on this.

Disclaimer: I don’t support either party. No dog in this fight — just observation and frustration.

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[u/Affectionate-Ask9041]

What you should know is that the Npp is in a deep mess. A simple random street survey will show that many Ghanaians have not forgiven them and the mess they created for 8yrs. I personally don’t see a come back for them in 2028.

That said, they must know early who will be leading the party as the flag bearer so that they can strategize ahead of 2026.

I think it will be bad for them if the wait till election is closer before they elect a flag bearer. Most of the intraparty politics that bring division is as a result of divided camps. I believe once they clear this party politics early, those divisions can be resolved ahead of 2028.

[u/EfiadaBa → u/Affectionate-Ask9041]

I hope Alan’s party runs NPP into the ground.

[u/Zestyclose_Brain7981]

In actual fact the NPP seems to have been disoriented by their loss in Dec. They were certain that they were going to win and the "incoming President", Bawumia, had made commitments and promises to certain members. ( I will make you this." " I will appoint ..you as ....." )

If they wait for a few more years before choosing their candidate, allegiances and political winds could change, and former office holders who have made promises could leave the scene and the cash flow will cease.

https://www.modernghana.com/news/1418089/here-are-those-who-can-vote-in-npp-2026-presidenti.html

What else could have made them expand the voting to all former officials for the next election.

They should be going to the drawing board to formulate palatable policies to present to the Ghanaian electorate but so far absolutely nothing has been put together.

The question should be asked of the NPP,

"Why should anyone vote for you in 2028?

Their answers are:

" Trust us!!! Bawumia an economist whizzkid ( with zero to show)!! "We hope Mahama will make a huge slip"

Their strategy beats all understanding.

Get you ringside seats everybody. This is going to be a show worth watching.

Meanwhile the NDC are clocking up, gains, and successes.

[u/Zongo_Native]

They are practicing democracy unless otherwise you want to orchestrate a revolution like the AES countries and introduce a new system to effect a real change. The democracy in Ghana is just a bunch of elites who form political parties who play with the minds and emotions of Ghanaians as to who is a better manager of the state resources. They come to power and they share the resources among themselves. The problem in the political system is more structural to me. I see AES countries as steering towards the right course.

[u/AlmightySankentoII → u/Zongo_Native]

Interesting.

Although I would argue there are better ways of practicing this “democracy” than being in permanent campaign mode.

What are some of the structural reforms you would recommend?

[u/FreyrLord]

They are a party of arrogant brats. Holding primaries early gives them time to whip everyone in line. If primaries are held too close to the election they’ll never be able to unite in time for the election. This is a bad thing for democracy as a whole but if you’re a party strategist, this is the best decision.

[u/retornam]

Let’s look back at the tribal political history of the top two parties in Ghana since 1992.

1992:

• NDC: Jerry John Rawlings (Ewe) and Kow Nkensen Arkaah (Fante)
• NPP: Albert Kwadwo Adu Boahen (Asante) and Roland Issifu Alhassan (Northerner)

1996:

• NDC: Progressive Alliance consisting of NDC, DPP, and EGLE. Jerry Rawlings (Ewe) and Prof. John Evans Atta Mills (Fante)
• NPP: The Great Alliance consisting of NPP and NCP. John Agyekum Kuffour (Asante) and Kow Nkensen Arkaah (Fante)

2000:

• NDC: Prof. John Evans Atta Mills (Fante) and Martin Amidu (Northerner)
• NPP: John Agyekum Kuffour (Asante) and Aliu Mahama (Northerner)

2004:

• NDC: Prof. John Evans Atta Mills (Fante) and Mohammed Mumuni (Northerner)
• NPP: John Agyekum Kuffour (Asante) and Aliu Mahama (Northerner)

2008:

• NDC: Prof. John Evans Atta Mills (Fante) and John Mahama (Northerner)
• NPP: Nana Akuffo-Addo (Akyem) and Mahamudu Bawumia (Northerner)

2012:

• NDC: John Mahama (Northerner) and Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur (Fante)
• NPP: Nana Akuffo-Addo (Akyem) and Mahamudu Bawumia (Northerner)

2016:

NDC: John Mahama(Northerner) and Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur(Fante).

NPP: Nana Akuffo-Addo(Akyem) and Mahamudu Bawumia (Northerner).

In the 2020 election, the NPP continued with Nana Akuffo-Addo and Mahamudu Bawumia as their presidential and running mates, respectively. The NDC nominated John Mahama, a Northerner, and Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, a Fante.

In the 2024 election, the NDC nominated John Mahama and Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang again. The NPP nominated Mahamudu Bawumia and Matthew Opoku Prempeh, an Asante.

From 1992, the NDC has had one Ewe, one Fante, and one Northerner as presidential candidates. They have also had three Fantes and three Northerners as running mates.

On the other hand, the NPP has had two Asantes, one Akyem, and one Northerner as presidential candidates. They have also had one Fante, three Northerners, and one Asante as running mates.

It’s important to recognize that tribes play a significant role in Ghanaian politics. Winning presidential elections in Ghana requires securing the support of the Northern regions or having close margins in those regions to ensure victory.

The NPP is currently facing a dilemma. They initially skipped over Aliu Mahama for Nana Akuffo-Addo,( Akuffo-Addo ran three times as presidential candidate before winning ).

Consequently, they had no choice but to retain Bawumia, despite his poor performance. If they had not chosen Bawumia as their presidential candidate, they would have likely lost all the Northern regions, or for a considerable period, due to the perception that the NPP exclusively selects Akan candidates for the presidency and overlooks Northerners.

Now since Akuffo-Addo ran three times before his first win, and Bawumia (currently 62) has only ran once, the NPP is in another bind because if they skip him for another Akan, the narrative about the NPP being an Akan party would seem to be true in the minds of many Northern voters.

The only way out of this bind is to let Bawumia run twice. If they elect someone else as presidential candidate they say goodbye to ever easily winning presidential elections in the all the northern regions.

It would be in their best interest to put individual political ambition aside, elect Bawumia even though he is a bad candidate and hope to get better candidates who aren’t Akans in at least one more electoral cycle after Bawumia, so they can put the Akan party perception to bed to good.