NPP Prepares for Crucial National Delegates Conference as John Boadu Leads Race for National Chairmanship

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is set to convene in Kumasi on October 3, 2026, for its National Delegates Conference, a pivotal event as the party seeks to restructure and regain power for the 2028 general elections. Following the inauguration of President John Mahama in early 2025, the NPP is focused on selecting a leadership team capable of navigating the challenges of opposition. Anthony Karbo, Chairperson of the NPP’s Organisation Committee, has emphasized that the selection of the 47 candidates vying for nine national positions must be based on competence and organizational skill rather than proximity to the party’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. This focus on merit is intended to ensure the party is battle-ready for the next electoral cycle.

In the high-stakes race for National Chairman, former General Secretary John Boadu has emerged as the clear frontrunner. According to a political environment assessment survey conducted by Prof. Smart Sarpong, Boadu holds a commanding lead with 46.5% support among respondents, significantly ahead of his closest rival, Boakye Agyarko, who polled at 24.8%. Boadu, who has been endorsed by groups such as the Takoradi Technical University chapter of Patriotic Intellectuals, is campaigning on his experience leading the party to victory in 2016 and 2020. He has urged delegates to prioritize “winning ways” and immediate party rebuilding over long-term personal agendas. Meanwhile, the National Officers Elections Committee (NOEC) has moved to assure all aspirants of a transparent process, specifically addressing concerns from the Agyarko campaign regarding the TESCON delegates list.

The broader executive lineup also shows clear preferences among delegates, with Lawyer Justin Frimpong Kodua (JFK) leading the General Secretary race with 60% support. Other prominent figures in the lead include Henry Nana Boakye for Vice Chairman, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover for National Organizer, and Mavis Hawa Koomson for National Women Organizer. These internal elections are viewed as the necessary foundation for the party’s upcoming presidential primary. High-profile members, including former MP Kennedy Agyapong and Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, have already signaled their intent to lead the party in 2028, with Agyapong’s supporters recently picking up his nomination forms to champion a message of discipline, patriotism, and economic transformation.

Despite the focus on upcoming votes, senior party figures have issued stern warnings about internal cohesion. Elders such as Kwame Pianim and Hackman Owusu-Agyemang have cautioned that the NPP risks a political decline similar to that of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) if it fails to address grassroots dissatisfaction and internal fractures. Reconciliation efforts are already underway in constituencies such as Sunyani East, where leaders are working to unite members after divisive local executive polls. As the party moves toward its October conference and subsequent 2026 presidential primary, the emphasis remains on introspection, renewal, and the restoration of a unified front to challenge the current administration.