As the New Patriotic Party (NPP) prepares to elect a new presidential candidate on Saturday, January 31, 2026, the contest is shaping up as a defining moment for a party still reckoning with its defeat in the 2024 general elections.
Five heavyweight contenders are in the race: former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; former NPP General Secretary, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong; former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong; former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong; and former Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.
But for the Member of Parliament for Damongo and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the choice before delegates goes beyond personalities—it is about the survival and revival of the party.
In an interview with MyJoyOnline.com, Mr. Abu Jinapor argued that Dr Bawumia deserves another opportunity to lead the NPP, describing the former Vice President as the candidate best positioned to rebuild the party and return it to power in 2028.
“The NPP is at a very crucial stage in its life,” he said, pointing to the aftermath of the 2024 elections and the party’s decision to hold an early delegates’ conference—an unprecedented move in its history.
According to Mr. Abu Jinapor, the January 31 primary is not merely an internal contest but a strategic decision that could either strengthen or weaken efforts to reposition the party.
He believes Dr Bawumia brings several advantages to the table, starting with name recognition and political experience.
“He’s marketable. He’s been marketed already,” he said, noting that Dr Bawumia has been at the forefront of national politics for nearly two decades and has already led the party as a presidential candidate.
Beyond familiarity, the Damongo MP described Dr Bawumia as a formidable campaigner with the ability to articulate the NPP’s vision and policy direction, particularly on issues such as unemployment and the rising cost of living.
“He has solutions and ideas for the country,” he said.
Mr. Abu Jinapor also highlighted Dr Bawumia’s personal integrity, describing it as “very commendable,” and argued that this attribute would be critical in restoring public confidence in the party.
Perhaps most significantly, he presented Dr Bawumia as a unifying figure at a time when the NPP must heal internal divisions and broaden its appeal beyond its traditional base.
“I believe that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is a unifier and therefore can unite the party and also reach out across various constituencies in the country to build a broad-based coalition for victory,” he said.
Asked how he would present Dr Bawumia to the general public, beyond party loyalists, Mr. Abu Jinapor offered a personal character assessment shaped by years of close political association.
“He’s a fine gentleman—quiet but very determined and poised,” he said. “A man with clarity of thought, a man of vision, a man of integrity, and above all, a trustworthy man you can depend on.”
With five candidates on the ballot, the race remains competitive, but Mr. Abu Jinapor expressed strong confidence that the party would rally behind Dr Bawumia.
“In elections, until the ballot is counted, you are never sure what will happen,” he admitted. “But from all the indications, it looks very clear that the party is around him and around his vision.”
He added that there is a growing sense within the NPP that Dr Bawumia represents the strongest image going into the primaries and beyond.
“I am very confident that on Saturday, the NPP will elect him as its presidential candidate,” he said, expressing hope that the party would then secure victory in the 2028 general elections.
As delegates prepare to vote, the contest has crystallised a broader debate within the NPP: whether to return to a familiar figure seen by supporters as tested and unifying, or to chart a new course after electoral defeat. Saturday’s outcome is expected to shape not only the party’s flagbearer but its future direction ahead of 2028.
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