The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will, on Tuesday, July 29, open nominations for its 2028 flagbearer position.

The party’s National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, known as Nana B, confirmed the date for the nominations opening during an appearance on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen.

“We are opening nominations on Tuesday, July 29, in line with our constitutional mandate. Every aspirant will have a full month to submit their forms. This process is not just about picking forms—it’s about demonstrating readiness to lead our great party into the future. The National Executive Committee has approved the full timetable, and we are committed to a transparent and fair process,” he said.

This comes after the opposition party officially released its presidential primaries timetable on Friday, July 25, following a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra. The statement informed interested candidates to pick up their forms by Tuesday. It also noted that by August 28, all forms should have been submitted, as the party is expected to move into the vetting mode by September, approximately a month after they close the flagbearer nomination.

“Nominations will be opened on July 29, 2025, for all persons interested in contesting for the flagbearer to pick their forms. Vetting will be conducted from September 15 to 22, and the election to choose our flagbearer will be held on January 31, 2026.”

NEC has urged both candidates and supporters to uphold the tenets of the party to uphold peace and harmony. “All aspirants and their supporters are reminded to uphold the values of the party and refrain from divisive conduct during the campaign period.”

The earlier-than-usual opening of nominations for the flagbearer position, according to the party, forms part of their restructuring and strategic measures taken to ensure transparency and discipline in the selection process, as well as give ample time to the flagbearer to engage members, stakeholders, and other members of the international community to set the required tone for the 2028 elections.

The nominations’ opening comes about six months ahead of the party’s presidential primaries, scheduled for January 31, 2026. Ahead of the 2016 general elections, the NPP opened nominations in March 2014 and held flagbearer elections on October 18, 2024, marking 25 months ahead of the elections.

However, in 2025, they have declared nomination openings in July and a primary set for January 2026, which is about 35 months ahead of the presidential elections. According to the party’s constitution, it is required that at least six months’ notice be given ahead of the primaries.

Meanwhile, several prominent party figures have already publicly signalled their intent to contest, including Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum (former Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe), Bryan Acheampong (Member of Parliament for Abetifi), Kennedy Agyapong (former Member of Parliament for Assin Central), and former party General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former vice president and the NPP’s flagbearer in the 2024 election, is widely considered the frontrunner, followed by the former Assin North Member of Parliament and Kennedy Agyapong, a former contender for the flagbearer primaries.

The former vice president has already declared his intention to run again. His popularity among the party’s grassroots is strong, and recent endorsements have added momentum to his campaign.

Kennedy Agyapong’s position as the strongest contender for Dr. Bawumia has been complemented by a recent survey conducted by Sanity Africa, a Pan-African civil society organisation, between April and June 2025, which showed Kennedy Agyapong leading with 51.4% delegate support, ahead of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who had 42.2%.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has received backing from 268 former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), who visited him in June to pledge their support. That is a major boost, especially from party operatives who served under the previous administration.

Ahead of the flagbearership race, Ken Agyapong has received prophecies about his victory. Prophet Bernard El-Bernard has prophesied his win.

“In the conclusion of the vision, I will witness Kennedy Ohene Agyapong elected as the flagbearer of the party. A new movement will emerge, one that brings renewed strength, unity, and energy to the New Patriotic Party. I will marvel at how the choice of one man could revive the party and prepare it with vigor for the 2028 election,” the prophet shared on May 3, 2025.

Ahead of the 2024 elections, he predicted that current president John Mahama would win the election by a landslide. Prophet Bernard Nelson-Eshun shared the prophecy on several occasions, but the most notable was on October 22, 2024, via a Facebook post titled “My Third Vision Concerning Ghana’s 2024 Presidential Elections.” He stated that he saw President Mahama as number 8 on the ballot paper and being declared the winner after the December 7 election.

Following the Electoral Commission’s balloting event on September 21, 2024, President Mahama drew the number 8 slot.

Indeed, President Mahama won the election. John Dramani Mahama (NDC) bagged 6,328,397 valid votes, representing 56.55%, and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the NPP secured 4,657,304 votes, representing 41.61%. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) presently has absolute Majority in Parliament.