NPP National Delegates Conference: Over 7,000 Delegates Converge in Kumasi to Elect National Officers Ahead of 2028

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is set to hold its National Delegates Conference on October 3, 2026, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. Over 7,121 delegates from across the country will gather to elect new national officers, marking a critical step in the party’s reorganization following the election of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as flagbearer in January 2026. The Electoral Commission has confirmed its readiness to supervise the polls, where 47 aspirants are contesting nine national positions, including the high-stakes races for National Chairperson and General Secretary.

The contest for National Chairperson features prominent figures such as Paul Afoko, John Boadu, Sammy Crabbe, and Boakye Agyarko. Political analyst Dr. Kwasi Amakye-Boateng has highlighted the importance of this election for party unity, endorsing Afoko as a candidate capable of reconciling disgruntled members. He urged delegates to prioritize competence over regional backgrounds, asserting that the party’s history of valuing capability will be essential for success in 2028. The conference also marks a milestone for political inclusion, with disability activist Yaw Ofori-Debra praising the party’s constitutional amendments that have empowered over 250 members with disabilities to participate in the leadership process.

Logistics and security preparations have transformed Kumasi, which is currently adorned in party colors. The Ashanti Regional Police Command has announced temporary road closures and diversions around the stadium, including routes from Bridginia Traffic Lights to the Carvery Methodist Church, to manage the anticipated crowd. Authorities have issued a stern warning that vehicles parked in unauthorized areas will be towed. Amid these preparations, local tensions have emerged; Dr. Kerskin Opoku Owusu, the Ashanti Regional NPP Communications Director, raised alarms over the alleged destruction of aspirants' posters, calling on security agencies to maintain peace and protect democratic principles.

Beyond the internal leadership race, the conference serves as a platform for broader policy demands. The NPP's external branches are calling for a 90-day roadmap for the implementation of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act (ROPAA) to ensure voting rights for Ghanaians abroad in the 2028 elections. On the grassroots level, party organization received a boost from Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, MP for Effiduase-Asokore, who donated a transport bus to his constituency executives. As voting begins at noon on Saturday, the results will shape the executive team tasked with steering the party through the final years of the current administration toward the next general election.