Agyarko denies rift with Bawumia as NPP chairmanship race intensifies ahead of October vote

Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko's campaign team has moved swiftly to quash rumours of discord with New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the contest for the party's national chairmanship heats up ahead of the October 3, 2026 election. The former Energy Minister is one of several candidates vying for the position, and his campaign has sought to clarify his intentions and record of service to the party.

In a statement released on Sunday, August 30, Agyarko's team identified what it called two misleading narratives in the ongoing debate: attempts to attribute collective party achievements to individual candidates, and suggestions that Agyarko harbours ambitions that would conflict with Bawumia's role as flagbearer. The campaign stressed that such portrayals misrepresent both Agyarko's motivations and the nature of party politics.

A Long Record of Service to the NPP

Agyarko's campaign has highlighted his deep roots within the NPP, tracing his involvement back to 1992 when he became a founding member. During the party's years in opposition, he served as chair of the Danquah-Busia Club of North America and as the NPP's North America Coordinator, roles through which he worked to strengthen the party's organisational presence among diaspora Ghanaians at a time when such work offered little political reward.

Between 1993 and 1998, Agyarko contributed a regular column titled "Letter from America" to The Statesman newspaper, using the platform to engage with political issues affecting Ghanaians abroad. His involvement in party strategy deepened ahead of the 2012 general election, when he served as National Campaign Manager and played a key role in organisational and policy reform following the party's 2008 defeat. He later advised the presidential candidate during the 2016 campaign.

Before his return to Ghana, Agyarko spent over two decades at the Bank of New York, where he rose to Vice President and Head of Global Investment Management. His tenure as Energy Minister followed his return to Ghana, further anchoring his public service credentials within the party framework.

Clarifying the Leadership Question: Why This Matters for Ghana

The NPP chairmanship election is significant for Ghana because it directly affects how the party is structured and managed during a critical electoral period. The leadership of a political party shapes its internal cohesion, campaign effectiveness, and ability to appeal to voters. With the 2024 elections already concluded and the 2028 campaign cycle beginning to take shape, the choice of national chairman will influence the party's organisational readiness and internal dynamics.

Agyarko's campaign has been careful to emphasise that the chairmanship and flagbearer roles are distinct and complementary. The flagbearer leads the party's political messaging and campaign, while the national chairman oversees organisational infrastructure. This separation is intended to prevent the kind of internal power struggles that can weaken political parties. Agyarko's campaign maintains he has Bawumia's full support and seeks only to unify various factions within the NPP through neutral, independent leadership.

The broader context involves addressing divisions that emerged during the NPP's January presidential primary, when a substantial portion of delegates supported candidates other than Bawumia. Agyarko's campaign positions him as someone capable of healing these rifts and reuniting the party's grassroots, members and supporters around a common agenda.

Party Unity Over Personal Ambition

The Agyarko campaign has instructed supporters not to attack fellow candidates, acknowledging that all contestants have contributed to the party's development. This disciplined approach reflects a stated commitment to resolving internal differences through constructive engagement rather than divisive rhetoric.

The campaign has also pushed back against what it describes as "convenient revisionism" by some candidates—attempts to claim personal credit for victories that were achieved through collective effort. According to the statement, the NPP's electoral successes belong to the party, its grassroots, members and supporters, not to individual politicians. This framing is intended to redirect the conversation away from personality-driven politics toward substantive questions about party organisation and unity.

• Agyarko denies reports of conflict with flagbearer Bawumia, emphasising separate roles
• Former Energy Minister cites founding membership dating to 1992 and diaspora work
• Campaign positions chairmanship race as opportunity for party unity ahead of 2028