Former Abuakwa South MP, Samuel Atta Akyea, has warned the New Patriotic Party (NPP) against fielding a fresh presidential candidate in future elections, stressing that such a decision would amount to a risky political gamble. He explained that post-election reviews revealed Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s personality was not responsible for the party’s defeat. Instead, the setback was largely attributed to voter fatigue after the NPP’s eight years in power.
Speaking on Metro TV on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Mr. Atta Akyea highlighted that Dr. Bawumia’s personal appeal was instrumental in securing 41 percent of the votes, even in what he described as a highly challenging political climate. “I am demonstrating the arithmetic: when the circumstances were extremely unfavourable, it was the man’s persona that drew the 41 percent he achieved.
Common sense dictates that we present him again,” he remarked. He further noted that historical patterns show first-time presidential candidates rarely succeed on their initial attempt, underscoring the importance of consolidating and expanding Dr. Bawumia’s existing support base.
Mr. Atta Akyea emphasised that the NPP must rally behind Dr. Bawumia once more, aiming to boost his support by roughly nine percent in order to surpass the 50-plus-one threshold required for victory. He argued that the opposition would struggle to introduce a new contender against Dr. Bawumia, who already commands broad national recognition and credibility.
“By the time the NDC presents a fresh candidate against Bawumia—who is already well-marketed and whose numbers favour him—it will be clear that no one they put forward can match his national appeal or intellectual stature,” he asserted. He cautioned that sidelining Dr. Bawumia in favor of a new candidate would expose the party to needless political risks.
“If we decide to start afresh with new people and allow the NDC to use propaganda against them, that will be a lottery the NPP should not get involved in,” he said. The NPP will hold its presidential primaries on January 31, 2026, to vote for a candidate to lead it into the 2028 general elections. The race is between former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Former MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, and Former Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.
Former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, and former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyepong, are also in the race.
Source: William Narh