Kufuor Serves Serious Warning as NPP Flagebearer Race Heats Up, Condemns Tribalism in Party
- Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has warned the New Patriotic Party against indulging in ethnocentrism
- The former president warned that such sentiments could reinforce negative stereotypes and undermine the party
- The NPP has scheduled its presidential primaries for Saturday, January 31, 2026, sparking a war of words from aspirants and their supporters
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has warned against the use of tribal and religious rhetoric in internal campaigns as the New Patriotic Party's flagbearer race heats up.
Kufuor fears such comments could reinforce negative stereotypes and undermine the party’s national appeal.
Source: Facebook
Speaking at the launch of the party’s new ideological and policy think tank on June 25, Kufuor said there was some creeping bigotry within the party.
He warned that divisive utterances by some party members lend weight to longstanding accusations that the NPP is an ethnocentric political organisation.
"This is a party that has been branded tribal. We cannot perpetuate it."
“Democracy doesn’t go in for tribe, religion or gender. It is the individual. One man, one vote. And if we want power, we want to present a person who will be convincing to the generality of the electorate.”
Kufuor emphasised that the NPP must select a leader not based on ethnic or religious affiliation, but rather one who is capable of addressing the needs of all Ghanaians.
The NPP kickstarted its flagbearer race by announcing that the presidential primary would be in would take place on January 31, 2026.
The NPP has scheduled its presidential primaries for Saturday, January 31, 2026.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee on June 17.
So far, the contenders that have emerged in the race have been Former MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong; Kwabena Agyapong; former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia; the MP for Bosomtwe, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and the former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong.
NPP MPs declare support for Bawumia
Some NPP MPs are publicly backing Bawumia, assuring him of their support for his re-election bid.
The opposition MPs endorsed the former Vice-President's candidacy after paying a courtesy call on him at his residence on June 19.
From videos of the meeting circulating on social media, the MPs who pledged their support for Bawumia's candidacy included former Minister for Information, Works and Housing, and MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, MP for Afigya Kwabre North, Collins Adomako-Mensah, Walewale MP, Dr Kabiru Tia Mahama, MP for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, and MP for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.
NPP National Chairman takes temporary leave
YEN.com.gh reported that the NPP National Chairman, Stephen Ayensu Ntim, took temporary leave from party duties.
In a letter addressed to the party's hierarchy on June 16, 2025, his family indicated that Mr Ntim was unwell and experiencing "cognitive dissonance and mental incapacitation".
In his absence, First Vice Chairperson Danquah Smith Buttey reportedly chaired the executive meeting held in Accra.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, was also notably at the meeting.
Source: YEN.com.gh
