Editorial: Congratulations To NPP For The Free And Fair Elections

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the weekend conducted its presidential primary to elect a Flagbearer ahead of the 2028 General Elections. The exercise, keenly followed by Ghanaians, once again placed the country’s democratic culture under the spotlight.

Five candidates contested the race: former Member of Parliament for Assin Central and businessman, Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong; the Member of Parliament for Abetifi in the Eastern Region, Dr. Bryan Acheampong; former Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and former General Secretary of the NPP, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyapong.

In an election involving 211,849 delegates across 333 polling centres nationwide, voting was conducted simultaneously in all 276 constituencies. The scale, organisation and peaceful nature of the exercise underscored the growing maturity of internal party democracy in Ghana.

Ahead of the polls, the media landscape was flooded with opinion surveys and prophetic declarations, some of which saw religious figures abandoning their ecclesiastical duties to predict electoral outcomes. While such forecasts generated public excitement, the results ultimately reaffirmed that elections are won at the ballot box, not on pulpits or social media platforms.

At the close of polls supervised by the Electoral Commission, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia emerged the decisive winner, securing 110,643 votes, representing 56.48 per cent of total valid votes cast. Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong placed second with 46,554 votes (23.76 per cent), while Dr. Bryan Acheampong, contesting his first presidential primary, garnered an impressive 25,303 votes (18.53 per cent). Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and Ing. Kwabena Agyapong obtained 1,999 (1.03 per cent) and 402 (0.12 per cent) votes respectively.

The Chronicle congratulates the NPP for successfully organising a peaceful and credible presidential primary, further deepening the democratic credentials of the party and reaffirming Ghana’s status as a beacon of democracy on the African continent.

We also commend the National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by its Chairman, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, for its prompt congratulatory message to the NPP. Such gestures promote political tolerance and strengthen Ghana’s multiparty democracy.

While the conduct of delegates was largely commendable, isolated incidents captured on video involving scuffles over transportation allowances are regrettable and must be condemned. Political parties must continue to educate their members on discipline and decorum, especially during nationally significant exercises.

The Ghana Police Service equally deserve commendation for providing effective security from Bawku to Axim, ensuring a smooth and incident-free process.

The Chronicle congratulates Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on his election as the flag bearer of the NPP. His victory positions him as the leader of the party as it prepares for what promises to be a fiercely contested 2028 General Election.

With the governing National Democratic Congress also preparing to select a successor to President John Dramani Mahama, the political landscape is already taking shape, a development Ghanaians are keenly observing.

The unity displayed by the NPP leadership and supporters at the party’s headquarters in Asylum Down, following the declaration of results was encouraging and sends a strong signal of readiness for the task ahead.

Kudos to the NPP and to Ghana’s democracy.

 

 

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