Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to focus on restoring public confidence rather than engaging in internal wrangling over flagbearer contests.
His comments come in the wake of growing tensions between the camps of the two leading contenders in the NPP’s flagbearer race—former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong.
The tensions are over who commands the most support from the party’s 88 Members of Parliament.
Dr. Bawumia’s team claims he has the backing of over 60 MPs, following a meeting with some lawmakers at his office on Thursday.
However, Kennedy Agyapong’s supporters insist he has the support of at least 50 MPs.
Reacting to the development in a social media post on Friday, June 20, Mr Cudjoe described the situation as unfortunate, saying the party should rather be working to win back the trust of Ghanaians after its defeat in the 2024 elections.
“It is so sad seeing the once mighty, well respected NPP under Kufuor, now having its decimated rank and file fighting over 60 out of 88 parliamentary seats they luckily managed after the 2024 electoral bludgeoning. For supposed front runners for the party’s flagbearer race?” he wrote.
He advised the party to instead focus on accountability and present a credible plan for national recovery.
“It would be wise to fight to convince 276 constituencies that the party will convince many thieves who stole our money to return the loot, ban them from contesting elections, and share a credible plan devoid of empty slogans, spin and waste. Maybe then Ghanaians will try paying attention to them,” he stated.
The NPP has scheduled its flagbearer elections for January 31, 2026, following a National Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday, June 17.
Other contenders in the race include former Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Abetifi MP Bryan Acheampong, and former General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.
