#NPPDecides: Presidential Primaries: A Sneak Peek into the Upcoming Primaries

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is gearing up for its internal party primaries scheduled for Saturday, November 4, 2023. The primary goal of this election is to elect a flagbearer who will lead the New Partriotic Party for the upcoming 2024 presidential elections. With election day drawing closer, many eyes are on the two leading candidates: vice president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong.

The journey to the primaries began with the Super Delegates Congress on August 26, 2023, which aimed at narrowing down the field of aspirants to five, as mandated by the party's constitution. In all, 10 candidates – Dr Bawumia, Joe Ghartey, Kwabena Agyapong, Dr Owusu Afriyie, Nana Poku, Alan Kyerematen, Kennedy Agyapong, Boakye Agyarko, Francis Addai Nimoh, and Dr Konadu Apraku – contested in the super delegate’s congress. In the end, Dr Bawumia, Kennedy Agyapong, Alan Kyerematen and Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto secured their positions for the primaries, while Boakye Agyarko and Francis Addai Nimoh tied in votes. Boakye Agyarko however withdrew from the contest citing as unconstitutional the decision of the party to convene the National Council as an electoral college to resolve the tie between him and Francis Addai Nimoh.

Generally the super delegates conference was peaceful, although there were isolated incidents of violence. Post-elections, one of the leading candidates, Alan Kyeremanten expressed his dissatisfaction with the conduct of the process, citing intimidation against his supporters and alleging that the process was tilted to favour an "establishment candidate”. This ultimately led to his withdrawal from the race and his resignation from the party.

As the NPP counts down to Saturday, the African Elections Project  explore the backgrounds of the various four contenders and the key issues that delegates are likely to consider as they vote to elect the next leader of the NPP.

Hon. Kenedy Agyapong

First on the ballot Kennedy Agyapong, 63, is a businessman and has been a Member of Parliament for the Assin Central constituency since 2001. Known for his financial support for the party since its formation in 1992, Agyapong's campaign messages have resonated with many delegates. In the recent super delegate congress, he secured second place, a position that many thought would go to Alan Kyeremanteng. Agyapong believes that if allowed to be the NPP's flagbearer, his honesty, integrity, and business acumen will secure a victory for the party in the 2024 elections. Nonetheless, critics have argued that Kennedy Agyapong is unfit for the presidency, citing his history of reckless and unpresidential remarks in the past. Notable among his numerous controversies is his involvement is publicising the identity of investigative journalist, Ahmed Suale which led to his killing.

Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia

Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia ,60, is one of the two leading candidates in the NPP presidential primary. Bawumia is the current Vice President of the Republic of Ghana and the Head of the economic management team. Having entered into politics  in 2008 following his nomination by then candidate  Nana Akufo Addo as his running mate during the 2008 elections, Mr. Bawumia has gained some popularity among party faithfuls. His prominence surged in 2013 when he represented the NPP as the chief witness in the 2012 election petition. In 2016, he gained further recognition by delivering lectures on the state of the economy and offering policy recommendations to address the economic challenges of the time. He is considered a key asset in the NPP’s campaign that brought the party into power in 2016. On the campaign trail ahead of the primaries, Dr. Bawumia’s key message to delegates is that he is most qualified candidate to lead the NPP to "break the 8” (the 8-year per political party reign jinx in Ghana). Nevertheless, his critics argue that he presided over challenging economic conditions being the vice president of the current administration, raising concerns that his election could lead the party into a tight spot in the upcoming 2024 general election.

Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto

Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, 74, is an agricultural economist by profession and previously held the position of Minister of Food and Agriculture of the Republic of Ghana from January 2017 to January 2023. He is also the former Member of Parliament for the Kwadaso constituency in the Ashanti Region. Dr Akoto is widely recognized for being the face of the government’s policy - Planting for Food and Jobs initiative, a flagship programme that provides resources to farmers to enhance their agricultural activities. Despite this initiative, critics have blamed him for failing to tackle rising food prices in the country. Dr. Akoto is confident about his chances in the primaries, as he claims a substantial portion of the delegates consists of farmers whose interests align with his message. His campaign messaging revolves around using agriculture to revive Ghana’s ailing economy, creating party-owned business to enhance the financial stability of the NPP and job creation.

Francis Addai Nimoh

Francis Addai Nimoh, 58, is a civil engineer and a former Member of Parliament for the Mampong constituency from 2013 to 2017. He contested in the 2014 NPP primaries, securing third place, a position many consider as impressive for a first-time contestant. He believes that the delegates will endorse his candidacy this time around, promising to unify the party and ensure the equitable distribution of resources to party structures.

What are the issues delegates will consider?

There are many factors delegates would consider before deciding who to vote for. Keen among these considerations is the need for a unifying candidate capable of bringing together different factions within the party after the primaries. Delegates will also consider a candidate who will be appealing to voters across voting lines in the 2024 elections. The 203,439 delegates largely made up of rank and file will also look out for candidates that are in touch with the grassroots of the party.

Who wins?

Ahead of the elections, Global Info Analytics conducted numerous polls, all of which consistently placed  Vice President ahead of his competitors. In their most recent poll, Dr. Bawumia secured 43.5% support, while his closest rival, Kennedy Agyapong, lagged at 23.5%, leaving roughly 18.3% of voters undecided.

If the latest poll is anything to go by, then it is likely that the upcoming election will result in a runoff. This is because no candidate is expected to secure the required 50% plus 1 vote to be declared the winner, as per the party's constitution. However, given that Dr Bawumia is currently polling at 43.5%, and considering that there are approximately 18.3% of undecided voters, there is a strong likelihood that he could secure the additional 7% needed to achieve victory out of the undecided voters and the undisclosed voters.

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