In a blistering critique of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) current trajectory, renowned surgeon and former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has warned that re-electing former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s flagbearer would lead to a “trainwreck.”
Speaking in an interview, the former cabinet minister described the modern iteration of the NPP as a “fake” version of its former self, alleging that the party has abandoned its founding values in favor of a culture of intimidation and systemic corruption.
“Look at how they elected their last flagbearer – twisting weak people’s hands, bribing delegates, intimidating others. This is the beginning of corruption, and this should not be allowed in any serious institution or any serious party.
“We lost the elections badly, and we did not deal with the issues that led to the losses, and we still want to go in there. I think that it will be a trainwreck if we elect the old flagbearer”
Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng’s comments come at a critical juncture for the NPP, which is preparing for its presidential primary scheduled for January 31, 2026. The party is currently grappling with the aftermath of its significant defeat in the 2024 general elections, a loss the professor insisted has not been properly scrutinized by the party’s leadership.
He argued that returning to the same candidate without addressing the underlying causes of the previous electoral failure is a recipe for internal and national disaster. The former minister did not mince words regarding his current relationship with the NPP, explicitly distancing himself from the party’s present leadership structure.
He suggested that the “real” NPP – rooted in democratic principles and transparency – has been pushed into the background, with recent internal party activities serving as proof that the party is no longer an institution of integrity.
This internal decay, Professor Frimpong-Boateng argued, makes the NPP unappealing to the broader Ghanaian electorate, who are looking for leadership that prioritizes national stability over partisan preservation.
Critiquing the Candidate
Despite his harsh assessment of the political landscape, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng clarified that his opposition to Dr. Bawumia is not born out of personal animosity.
He acknowledged that the former Vice President is a “nice person,” but maintained that personal affability is an insufficient qualification for leading Ghana out of its current economic difficulties.
“Bawumia is a very nice person but being nice alone is not enough to lead Nkrumah’s Ghana.
“He should clearly distance himself from individuals responsible for the economic difficulties experienced under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo if he hopes to regain the confidence of the Ghanaian electorate”
Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation
The professor suggested that without such a demonstration of autonomy, Frimpong-Boateng believes Dr. Bawumia will remain tethered to the failures and economic downturn of the past administration.
As the NPP primary approaches, the warning from one of its most respected elders has sent ripples through the party’s grassroots. With five aspirants, including Dr. Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong, cleared to participate in the January 31 election, the party faces a choice between continuity and a radical shift in direction.
For Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, the choice is clear: the party must confront its internal fake elements or face a total collapse on the national stage.
The former minister concluded by reiterating that his loyalty lies with the “real NPP” and its original mission to transform Ghana, rather than the current power structures that he believes have led the party astray.
