As the New Patriotic Party (NPP) prepares for its next internal contest to choose a flagbearer for the 2028 general elections, political analyst Dr. George Asekere has raised critical concerns over the party’s sequencing of events leading up to the 2026 presidential primaries.
According to Dr. Asekere, although the NPP flagbearer selection is being described by some as an “early congress,” the party is, in fact, adhering to its own laws.
In an interview with the Vaultz News, he explained that under the party’s constitution, a presidential candidate is expected to be elected at least two years before a national election. By this measure, there is no breach of internal protocol.
“That is the party law,” he said, stressing that within both legal and conventional timelines, the party remains on track.
However, Dr. Asekere pointed out a shift in the party’s usual mode of internal elections that could have divisive consequences.
Traditionally, the NPP begins its electoral process from the grassroots, moving from polling station executives up to national officers and finally selecting a flagbearer. This time, the party appears to be inverting that structure—starting from the top.
“Many have raised many questions because using the current approach will mean that the very people who elected the leaders for the 2024 elections are the same people who will elect leaders for the 2028 elections. That has the potential to bring disunity.”
Dr. George Asekere
He explained that, in reality, candidates often support individuals at the grassroots level. If that pattern holds, those who won in the 2024 elections likely have their loyalists occupying many of the lower-level positions.
According to him, if the leadership continues with a top-down approach, it’s likely that many of these executives will be replaced as the top may influence this position—an outcome that could ultimately impact whoever is chosen as the next flagbearer.
Unity Not Guaranteed In An Early Flagbearer
Dr. George Asekere also challenged the assertion that choosing a flagbearer early would ensure party unity, arguing that the current political context does not support the belief being promoted by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong-Kodua.
Instead, he called for transparency in explaining the rationale behind the top-down approach and advocated that the pool of executives involved in electing the next round of leaders must differ from those selected during the 2024 cycle.
“If they don’t do that… it presupposes that they are trying to remote control the system,” he warned, suggesting that such a move may be designed to tilt the outcome in favor of a preferred candidate, potentially former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Still, he maintained that unity is not about timing but about fairness and inclusion. “It is not about early or late Congress,” he insisted.
What matters is a transparent and inclusive process from the grassroots to the presidential level.
“If the system is fair to all the candidates, from the polling station level to the presidential primary, whoever wins will have the right to make a strong case for party unity.
“But if you use a system that will make others feel that they have been muddled, they will watch you and say, ‘you have won, but prosecute the campaign, and let’s see.’ And we saw that ahead of the 2024 elections. So they should not repeat some of the mistakes in the 2028 elections.”
Dr. George Asekere
Accordingly, Dr. Asekere stressed that internal democracy must be non-negotiable. He argued that the party’s success as an opposition force depends on how united it is in the months and years ahead.
“You can execute your strategy in opposition when you are united,” he said, emphasizing that disunity undermines credibility and campaign coherence.
Drawing on historical parallels, Dr. Asekere said that movements—political or revolutionary—always hinge on fairness, justice, and equality.
“Nobody is stupid,” he warned, noting that any attempt to portray one group within the party as superior to others will backfire.
He added that party leaders must operate within rules that are broadly acceptable across the factional divide.
Any deviation, he said, would lead to disenchantment and voter apathy, even among party loyalists.
NPP Urged To Unite To Offer Real Alternative
Addressing the issue of endorsements and early campaign efforts, Dr. Asekere noted that divisions within political parties are unavoidable, but emphasized that the crucial factor is how the party handles and resolves internal disputes.
“You can endorse a candidate… but your candidate must cooperate with the winner,” he said, calling for a spirit of collaboration after primaries.
While some critics suspect the top-down method could be a form of rigging to benefit party elites, Dr. Asekere dismissed that assumption as oversimplified.
“Even if it is, it’s human behavior. You can’t predict,” he said, pointing out that some individuals who endorsed Dr. Bawumia for 2024 have since withdrawn their support.
He concluded that political behavior is fluid and cautioned against drawing hard conclusions based on past endorsements or structures.
Looking ahead, he said the NPP’s broader challenge is to present itself as a credible alternative to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
While Ghanaians are currently grappling with the cost of living, he noted that many perceive some economic improvement compared to last year.
“The average Ghanaian is interested in the cost of living… The average Ghanaian is going to ask, ‘If I bought petrol last year at 15, 16, 17 cedis, and today I’m buying at 10 cedis, why would I come back to you?’”
Dr. George Asekere
“So you’ve got to unite, come out with alternatives that are convincing,” he said. Only then, he argued, can the NPP win back public confidence and become a competitive force in the 2028 elections.
He also noted that it’s still early days in the current NDC administration, and the NPP must closely monitor trends before crafting a compelling national message. “But for now, it is difficult to have a convincing message that will convince the Ghanaian that you are the best alternative.”
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