In a move that has sent shockwaves through the upper echelons of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), former Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben South, Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah, has broken ranks to endorse Kennedy Ohene Agyapong for the 2028 presidency.
In a candid interview, the former Chairman of the Finance Committee argued that the NPP is currently navigating an “abnormal” political cycle that renders traditional candidacy obsolete. For Assibey-Yeboah, the party’s only path to reclaiming power lies in the “unconventional” appeal of the Assin Central maverick.
“For 2028, in the natural sequence of things, it shouldn’t be an NPP win. It makes it an abnormal election, if you like, and we need an unconventional candidate. For me, that is Kennedy Agyapong. He is not my friend. I’m even closer to Dr. Bawumia than Ken Agyapong but I just want the NPP to win power. It is not about likeness; it is about the ability to win the elections”
Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah, Former MP for New Juaben South
The endorsement comes at a critical juncture, as 214,812 delegates prepare to head to 277 voting centers on January 31, 2026, to elect a new leader. While Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia remains a central figure in the race, Assibey-Yeboah insisted that electoral data from the 2024 polls – where the NPP’s parliamentary strength plummeted to just 87 seats – serves as a grim warning against repeating past choices.
Assibey-Yeboah’s critique was not merely personal but rooted in what he described as a “pragmatic scorecard assessment.” He rejected the notion that Dr. Bawumia should be granted another opportunity, pointing out that historical precedents for multiple attempts – such as those of John Atta Mills or Nana Akufo-Addo – do not apply when the primary goal is an immediate return to governance.
He argued that the 2024 results, which saw the NDC secure a commanding 184-seat majority, indicate that the current leadership brand has been rejected by a significant portion of the electorate.
The former MP questioned the wisdom of exhausting the party’s resources on a repeat candidature when the “swing” required to win in 2028 is so substantial. He suggested that the party must be brave enough to experiment with new leadership, even if it means moving away from the established hierarchy.
Warning Of Parliamentary Wipeout
The “Assibey-Yeboah Audit” extended beyond the flagbearership to the very floor of Parliament. With the NPP currently reeling from the loss of the Akwatia seat following the death of Ernest Kumi, the party’s legislative influence is at its lowest ebb in decades.
Assibey-Yeboah warned that unless a radical “constituency-by-constituency,” review is conducted, many sitting MPs who survived the 2024 slaughter will lose their seats in the next cycle.
He asserted that the party cannot afford to field “dead wood,” or unpopular incumbents simply because of their seniority. The 2024 scorecard, which saw the NPP win only 32% of contested seats, necessitates a ruthless culling of candidates who lack local appeal.
“Following the 2024 elections, I looked at the scorecard. We won 88 seats over 276, 32%. But there are some we’ll lose again if we repeat them (MPs) Some of them, too, can come back and reclaim their seats”
Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah, Former MP for New Juaben South
As the NPP’s January 31 primary approaches, the race has narrowed to five contenders: Kennedy Agyapong, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and Kwabena Agyei Agyepong. Assibey-Yeboah’s intervention has effectively framed the contest as a choice between “safe continuity” and “radical disruption.”
“The need is to file a new candidate, and if the candidate doesn’t perform, they drop him. The party should be prepared to try a new candidate and assess performance accordingly. Our focus should be on selecting a candidate with the strongest prospects of securing victory in the next general elections”
Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah, Former MP for New Juaben South
The former MP’s call for a new candidate who can be dropped if they underperform reflects a growing sentiment within the party that the old rules of political loyalty must be sacrificed on the altar of electoral viability.
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