Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has been elected flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, positioning himself to lead the party into the 2028 general elections after winning a keenly contested presidential primary.
The former Vice President secured the mandate of party delegates, defeating four contenders in the race: Kennedy Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.
Kennedy Agyapong, former Assin Central Member of Parliament and widely viewed as Bawumia’s closest challenger, placed second, while Dr Bryan Acheampong, former Minister for Food and Agriculture, finished third after voting and collation were completed.
Shortly after his victory, Dr Bawumia expressed gratitude to party members and delegates in a message posted on his official Facebook page.
“To members of our great party, thank you,” he wrote on Saturday, January 31, 2026, accompanied by the hashtags #WinWithBawumia and #Bawumia2028.
The messaging signals a swift pivot from internal contest to national campaign posture, with party communicators expected to build around the slogans as part of an early rebranding and mobilisation effort toward the next general election.
With the primaries concluded, the party’s immediate focus turns to internal reconciliation and consolidation, as leaders work to close ranks after a competitive race and rebuild momentum ahead of 2028.
Dr Bawumia enters the next phase with high national name recognition but also faces significant political and economic questions. The NPP is seeking a return to power after its defeat in the 2024 general elections, when it failed in its attempt to extend its tenure beyond the usual two term cycle.
Critics have linked that loss in part to public dissatisfaction with economic conditions during the period he served as head of the government’s Economic Management Team. That period was marked by currency pressures, high inflation, and rising living costs, which became central issues in the campaign season.
Attention is also gradually shifting to the opposition National Democratic Congress, which is yet to select its own flagbearer for 2028. Early signals within the party suggest a possible contest involving Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia and Chief of Staff Julius Debrah when nominations open.
For now, the NPP begins a new chapter under Dr Bawumia’s leadership, with the central task of party unity and voter trust firmly on the agenda.