Akufo-Addo Meets NPP Presidential Aspirants to Strengthen Party Unity Ahead of 2026 Primaries

Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has hosted all five presidential aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at his private residence in Nima, Accra, to promote unity and strengthen internal cohesion ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.

The meeting, held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, brought together top NPP officials and aspirants in what insiders described as a “frank but cordial” discussion about maintaining party harmony as the NPP prepares for the January 31, 2026 primaries.

According to a statement signed by Fatimatu Abubakar, spokesperson for the former President, the engagement sought to reaffirm the aspirants’ commitment to a peaceful, issue-based campaign that will preserve party stability and boost public confidence in the NPP’s democratic credentials.

The gathering was attended by all five aspirants seeking to lead the party into the 2028 general elections: Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Food and Agriculture Minister Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and former General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.

Also present were senior party figures, including Council of Elders Chairman Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Acting National Chairman Danquah Smith Buttey, General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and former Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.

The breakfast meeting, described as forward-looking, was aimed at nurturing camaraderie among the aspirants and ensuring that post-primary unity is not compromised by internal rivalry or personal attacks during the campaign period.

In his opening remarks, Nana Akufo-Addo commended the aspirants for their loyalty to the party and their readiness to participate in a transparent internal election. He urged them to focus their campaign efforts on policies, ideas, and solutions that will help the NPP maintain its relevance in Ghana’s political space beyond 2025.

“I have had the privilege of working with each of you in different capacities,” he said. “Your contributions to our party and to Ghana’s development are commendable. What matters now is our unity and the credibility of the process ahead.”

He emphasized that a fair and credible primary process would be crucial to ensuring the NPP enters the 2028 elections as a united front, capable of retaining the confidence of Ghanaians.

Following the former President’s appeal, all five aspirants reportedly pledged to conduct clean campaigns free of personal attacks or divisive rhetoric.

They also assured Akufo-Addo and the party leadership that their campaign teams would uphold decorum throughout the process and rally behind whoever emerges as the NPP’s flagbearer after the primaries.

This pledge, according to political observers, could help the NPP avoid the bitter internal disputes that have often followed competitive primaries in Ghana’s major political parties.

The meeting comes at a time when political analysts have highlighted the importance of unity within the NPP as it transitions from government to opposition after the 2024 general elections.

Observers say the party’s ability to regroup, reorganize, and maintain internal discipline will significantly determine its chances of regaining power in 2028.

Ghana’s multiparty system has shown that post-election divisions can derail party structures. For example, internal disagreements in both the NPP and NDC in past election cycles weakened their organizational focus, especially during opposition years. Akufo-Addo’s intervention is therefore seen as a proactive move to prevent similar fractures.

The NPP has a long tradition of holding competitive but largely peaceful presidential primaries. In 2014, seven candidates contested the party’s flagbearership, leading to the eventual election of Nana Akufo-Addo as the party’s candidate for the 2016 general elections, which he won decisively.

Party insiders note that maintaining this legacy of democratic contestation is critical to the NPP’s identity and credibility as a political organization committed to rule of law and internal democracy.

Former President Akufo-Addo used the occasion to remind the party’s leadership of their responsibility to deliver a credible primary process. He stressed that transparency and fairness must remain central to the exercise, as any perception of bias could create lasting divisions.

He also called on party executives and election committees to apply consistent rules across all constituencies to ensure a level playing field for every aspirant.

“Fairness must not only be done but must be seen to be done,” Akufo-Addo reportedly stated, according to the official release.

The NPP’s presidential primary is widely viewed as a strategic milestone in the party’s rebuilding process following its electoral defeat in 2024.

Political watchers suggest that whichever candidate emerges victorious will need the support of the entire party machinery to mount a strong challenge in 2028. Akufo-Addo’s intervention, therefore, reflects an understanding that unity is as crucial as strategy in Ghana’s competitive political landscape.

Analysts also believe that by personally engaging the aspirants, the former President is signaling his continued interest in ensuring the NPP remains a cohesive political force even in his post-presidency years.

As the NPP prepares for its January 2026 primaries, the party’s leadership faces the dual task of ensuring both transparency and post-election reconciliation. The success of the meeting at Akufo-Addo’s residence may set the tone for a more mature and disciplined political contest within the party.

If sustained, the spirit of unity demonstrated at the breakfast meeting could enhance the NPP’s public image and strengthen Ghana’s broader democratic culture, where internal party democracy remains a vital part of national governance.

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