A 2024 flag bearer aspirant of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko, has criticised the party’s decision to hold its presidential primary before electing executives.
He believes this approach is counterintuitive, given the need for grassroots leadership to precede national executives and flag bearer elections.
Speaking on Accra-based Sompa FM on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Agyarko questioned the rationale, suggesting proponents either misunderstand politics or have adopted the initiative to serve their parochial interest.
“What prompted this sudden change? Who builds a roof before laying the foundation?” he questioned. “Either some people don’t understand the game or are driven by self-greed and parochial interests. Choosing a flag bearer before electing grassroots leaders is, with all due respect, total nonsense!”
Agyarko’s comments follow a June 17, 2025 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NPP, which resolved to hold the party’s presidential primary on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
The meeting, held in Accra Tuesday, June 17, deliberated on proposed constitutional reforms by the Professor Mike Oquaye Committee. The committee had investigated factors contributing to the party’s 2024 election defeat and made recommendations.
First Vice Chairman Danquah Smith Buttey chaired the meeting due to Chairman Stephen Ayesu Ntim’s ill health, whose family had informed the party leadership of his need to step back from activities in the meantime.
The meeting was attended by high-ranking party members including former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako.
The party is yet to announce the opening of nominations for the presidential primaries, some aspirants have declared their intentions. They include, 2024 presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a 2024 aspirant and former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, and Dr Bryan Abbey Acheampong, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture.
Although findings of the Prof. Oquaye Committee is not yet public, snippets leaked to the media indicate the performance of former President Akufo-Addo, his Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta as well as the candidature of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, contributed to the poor showing of the party.
The new directive is part of the recommendations by the party after the committee’s findings.
But according to Boakye Agyarko, the party’s popularity should precede that of any candidate since an election is not won by a single entity.
“We are selling the party first and foremost before the Presidential candidate. There is no way one person can win an election for any political party. That is why we start from polling station so they can start working from there,” he stated.
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