Four heavyweight contenders vie for NPP Nandom ticket as 2028 primary battle intensifies

The race for the New Patriotic Party's parliamentary nomination in Nandom is heating up dramatically, with four prominent figures announcing bids ahead of the 2028 primaries. The contest pits legal practitioner Sylvester Isang, former Interior Minister Ambrose Dery, social development consultant Alois Kog Kyaakpier Mohl, and former DKM Microfinance CEO Martin Dikumwine Delle against each other in what is shaping up as one of the Upper West Region's most keenly contested NPP races.

The Nandom seat is currently held by the National Democratic Congress's Dr Richard Kuuire, making the NPP nomination crucial for the party's hopes of recapturing the constituency. Each candidate brings distinct experience and has outlined competing visions for the constituency's development, signalling a substantive contest on issues and track records.

Meet the four contenders

Lawyer Sylvester Isang has framed his candidacy around time constraints and local rootedness. At 49, he argues that his window for public service is limited, with just over a decade before reaching Ghana's mandatory retirement age of 60. Drawing on his personal journey from poverty—including working on farms to pay school fees and helping his mother brew pito—Isang positions himself as someone who understands Nandom's grassroots challenges intimately.

His policy agenda is notably detailed and locally focused. Isang has pledged five tractors for farmers, a Food Relief Office, cementing of floors for poor households, seed funding for religious institutions, free transport for university freshers, mechanised boreholes, and establishment of a Begire Cultural Centre. He has also committed to a clean, issue-based campaign.

Former Interior Minister Ambrose Dery, who previously represented Nandom in Parliament, announced his comeback bid on local radio in August, framing his return as a response to divine calling and community appeals. His prior experience in government and ministerial roles gives him significant institutional credential within party structures.

Alois Kog Kyaakpier Mohl, a social development consultant and former Deputy Chief Executive of the Social Investment Fund, is making a second attempt after disqualification from the 2024 primaries. He has indicated his intention to formally declare before August's end.

Martin Dikumwine Delle, who led the now-defunct DKM Microfinance Company, announced his candidacy via Facebook on 12 August, rounding out the four-way contest.

Why it matters for Ghana and the Upper West

The Nandom primary reflects broader NPP dynamics heading into the 2028 elections, a cycle critical for the party's repositioning following recent electoral outcomes. Upper West Region has been a traditional stronghold for both major parties, and reclaiming or retaining seats here will significantly impact national parliamentary arithmetic.

The quality and specificity of policy platforms being articulated—particularly Isang's granular local development proposals—suggest that grassroots NPP primary contests are engaging substantively with constituency concerns around agriculture, infrastructure, and social services. This contrasts with campaigns sometimes dominated by personality politics alone.

Ambrose Dery's comeback bid also signals broader patterns of senior politicians repositioning themselves after previous electoral cycles. His ministerial experience brings national-level credibility, while challengers like Isang and Mohl represent newer generational voices within the party.

The competitive field may also benefit Nandom constituents, as candidates will be incentivised to differentiate themselves through concrete policy commitments and engagement with local priorities—whether agricultural support, infrastructure, or service delivery—rather than relying on incumbency or seniority alone.

Timeline and next steps

With formal declarations continuing into August 2026, the primary election itself remains several months away. The NPP will need to establish clear timelines and rules governing the nomination process. How the party manages this contest—particularly in ensuring internal cohesion post-primary for the general election battle against Dr Kuuire—will test its organisational capacity in a key region.