In what is being termed as a significant shift in the internal politics of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a number of minority Members of Parliament have formally come out to support former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to be the party flagbearer in the 2028 general elections.
The endorsement, which was made during a courtesy visit to the home of Dr. Bawumia on Thursday, June 19, 2025, is considered a calculated move to consolidate divided fronts within the party and make Bawumia the favorite in what is likely to be a hot contest in the flagbearer race.
A Powerful Minority MPs Support
Dr. Bawumia, the former Vice President (2017-2025) received a delegation of high profile NPP MPs who publicly pledged their allegiance to his leadership vision. The gathering, which was recorded in a viral video on social media, was full of smiling faces, strong handshakes, and optimistic speeches in favor of the former VP.
The present MPs are:
Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah MP, Ofoase-Ayirebi and former Minister of Information
Collins Adomako-Mensah- MP Afigya Kwabre North
Dr. Kabiru Tia Mahama – MP Walewale
Samuel Awuku – Akuapem North MP
Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah- MP Manhyia South
Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana- Gushegu MP
Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam – MP Karaga and former Finance Minister
Mustapha Ussif -Yagaba-Kubori MP and former Youth and Sports Minister
Internal sources have indicated that 66 of the 88 NPP MPs in the current Parliament of Ghana have declared their support to Dr. Bawumia, indicating a wide range of confidence in his capacity to rebuild the party following its 2024 electoral loss.
Why Now? And What Does It Mean?
The endorsement follows the official announcement by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP that the presidential primaries of the party will be held on January 31, 2026. The early display of loyalty is being seen as a move to rally behind one candidate early before the bitter internal divisions that characterized past races.
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To most party insiders, Dr. Bawumia is the face of the new NPP- digital-savvy, reform-oriented, and able to reach out to the rising youth population in Ghana.
Dr. Bawumia is a new breed of leadership. One MP said during the visit: We think he is the best person to restore the party to power in 2028.
The Advantage of Bawumia in the Race
Recent internal polls show that Dr. Bawumia still enjoys the support of 57 percent of NPP members, compared to other party candidates. He is also said to have 48 percent support among the general electorate, which makes him the most popular NPP figure in the current contest.
His poll lead and this new surge of endorsements put him in a strong position over his rivals, such as:
Kennedy Agyapong, Assin Central MP and vocal businessman
Bryan Acheampong, Abetifi MP and former Minister of Agriculture
Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, ex-NPP General Secretary
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the current MP and a revered educationist
Although Kennedy and Kwabena Agyapong have participated in past flagbearer contests, Dr. Adutwum and Bryan Acheampong are first-time presidential primary candidates. All four are regarded as powerful, having powerful political and grassroots ties.
Future Problems of the NPP
The road to redemption is not easy after the NPP suffered a humiliating defeat in 2024. The party has been reduced to an opposition party with just 88 seats in Parliament and it has to re-establish its image and policy attractiveness to regain the confidence of the voters.
The unity rallying behind Bawumia however, gives a ray of hope. His allies claim that his experience as Vice President, particularly in the digitalization of government services and financial reforms, offers a good basis of a new campaign slogan.
Others, though, warn against overconfidence.
Endorsements are fine, but we have to hear the grassroots. A party organizer in the Ashanti Region told YEN that the people want solutions and not just faces they are used to.
What’s Next?
The following months will be critical. The primaries in January 2026 are likely to be among the most competitive in the history of the party. All the candidates will start to roll out campaign messages, tour constituencies, and consolidate delegate support.
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In the meantime, political analysts feel that the fact that Dr. Bawumia has been able to attract early support of MPs may sway regional coordinators, youth wings, and even diaspora branches to support him.
Provided that he keeps this pace, the former Vice President can not only secure the flagbearer position of the NPP- but also set himself up to make a powerful national comeback in 2028.