Africa-Press – Ghana. On October 23, 2025, sixty-three members of Parliament (MPs) from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in Parliament publicly declared their support for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ghana’s former Vice President and the party’s 2024 flagbearer.
This endorsement represented nearly three-quarters of the Party’s 87 parliamentary seats in the legislative House signaled a decisive moment in Ghana’s political trajectory.
With the NPP scheduled to elect its flagbearer on January 31, 2026, the stakes are high—not only for the party itself but also for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), which faces a leadership vacuum as President John Mahama completes his constitutionally mandated two terms by 2028.
The endorsement by the MPs consolidated Bawumia’s standing among party elites, giving him a significant advantage over rivals such as Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a former MP for Assin Central in the Central Region and key financier of the party, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, former Minister of Education and MP for Bosomtwi in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture and MP for Abetifi in the Eastern Region and Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, a former General Secretary of the NPP.
The NPP has historically struggled with internal divisions. A strong bloc of MPs rallying behind Bawumia could mitigate factionalism, but it also risks alienating supporters of other candidates if not managed carefully.
The group led by Member of Parliament for Mampong, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong invoked the legacy of continuity and renewal, framing Dr Bawumia as the embodiment of the party’s ideological heritage, while also positioning him as the face of modern Ghanaian progress.
Threat to the NDC with Mahama’s Exit in 2028
With President John Mahama constitutionally barred from contesting again, the NDC must present a new candidate. This transition creates uncertainty, as Mahama remains the party’s most recognizable figure and electoral asset. The NDC’s challenge lies in finding a candidate who can match Mahama’s charisma and national appeal. Without a strong successor, the party risks fragmentation and diminishes voter confidence. If the NPP successfully unites behind Bawumia, the NDC could face an energized opposition with a clear message of renewal, while grappling with its own succession struggles.
2028 Elections to shape Ghana’s political future
The 2028 elections will be the first in decades without Mahama or Akufo-Addo as central figures. This generational shift opens space for new narratives, policies, and leadership styles. With Ghana facing challenges such as debt restructuring, youth unemployment, and infrastructure needs, the ability of either party to present credible solutions will determine electoral success.
The MPs’ decision to publicise their support for Bawumia reflects a growing trend in Ghanaian politics—where transparency and public accountability are used to counteract internal mischief and factional manipulation.The endorsement by 63 NPP MPs is more than an internal party maneuver—it is a strategic signal to the nation. It positions the NPP as a party preparing for a post-Mahama Ghana, where leadership renewal will be decisive.
For the NDC, Mahama’s exit in 2028 is both a challenge and an opportunity: the challenge of filling a leadership void, and the opportunity to redefine itself for a new era. The political torch has indeed been lit, but whether it burns brighter for the NPP or the NDC will depend on how each party navigates unity, succession, and the pressing demands of Ghana’s electorate.
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