Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has admonished the newly elected flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to lead with clarity and purpose ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Mr. Akufo-Addo made the remarks on Saturday, January 31, shortly after Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia emerged victorious in the NPP’s presidential primary.
While addressing the outcome of the contest, the former President acknowledged Dr. Bawumia’s character and commitment to party ideals.
“I know his mind, and I know his character. He is loyal to party principles,” Akufo-Addo said, urging the former Vice President to offer focused leadership in the period ahead.
Dr. Bawumia was elected the NPP’s flagbearer after securing a decisive victory in the nationwide primary, polling 110,643 votes, representing 56.48 per cent of the total valid votes cast.
Kennedy Ohene Agyapong placed second with 46,554 votes (23.76 per cent), followed by Dr. Bryan Acheampong, who garnered 36,303 votes (18.53 per cent). Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum finished fourth with 1,999 votes (1.02 per cent), while Kwabena Agyei Agyepong placed fifth with 402 votes (0.21 per cent).
The presidential primary attracted participation from over 200,000 delegates, who voted at 333 polling centres across all 275 constituencies nationwide. The process was conducted under tight security and supervised by party officials, with observers describing the exercise as largely peaceful despite a few isolated incidents.
Early collation trends had pointed to a commanding lead for Dr. Bawumia, reflecting broad-based support among party delegates. Party leadership and election observers subsequently praised the conduct of the exercise, citing minimal disruptions during voting and counting.
Following his victory, Dr. Bawumia expressed gratitude to delegates for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to run a unifying and inclusive campaign ahead of the 2028 elections. He appealed to supporters of all aspirants to rally behind the party to ensure electoral success.
The outcome of the primary officially positions Dr. Bawumia as the NPP’s standard-bearer, setting the stage for a highly anticipated contest in the next general elections.
