The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana is set to elect its national officers, with a recent poll by Global InfoAnalytics stirring controversy in the race for First Vice Chairman. The survey placed Nana Akomea, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Henry Nana Boakye, and Kodjo Fosu Boadu ahead of Richard Ahiagbah, the current NPP Director of Communications. Ahiagbah has rejected the poll findings, questioning the motives behind the research.
Ahiagbah dismissed Global InfoAnalytics Chief Executive Officer Mussa Dankwah, suggesting that delegates should ignore him. He described Dankwah's work as a "transactional poll" and emphasized that the NPP camp remains focused on the real contest, which will be decided on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Ahiagbah instead framed his candidacy around regional balance within the party's leadership, arguing that his inclusion would reflect a strategy to broaden the NPP's appeal.
Ahiagbah's campaign focuses on choosing leaders capable of winning, rather than simply voting for or against individuals. He believes that bringing him into the top ranks would help the party appeal to the minority vote, ahead of the 2028 general elections. Not all aspirants reacted negatively to the poll; Clement Opoku Gyamfi, contesting for National Youth Organiser, said the findings have pushed him to intensify his campaign.
The NPP's national officer elections are scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. Over 7,000 delegates are expected to converge on Kumasi to select the party's leadership ahead of the 2028 polls. The party has been preparing logistically for the exercise, including a rehearsal of the voting process with police and Electoral Commission officials.
The outcome of the First Vice Chairman race will shape the party's leadership structure heading into the 2028 general elections. The contest offers an early signal of the internal direction the NPP intends to take, including how it positions itself regionally and in terms of voter outreach. Ahiagbah's remarks about regional balance and expanding the party's base reflect this.
The NPP's national officer elections will determine which figures will steer the party's organisational and communications machinery in the run-up to the next polls. For the wider public, the contest provides insight into the party's future direction. The sources do not indicate when results are expected to be announced on the day, nor do they specify whether any further polling or campaigning is planned before then.
The dispute over the poll comes at a critical time, with just days to go before the NPP elects its national officers. Ahiagbah's rejection of the poll and his focus on regional balance and voter outreach reflect the high stakes of the contest. The election outcome will have implications for the party's leadership and its appeal to voters in the 2028 general elections.
Key points
- Richard Ahiagbah dismisses a poll showing four rivals ahead of him in the NPP First Vice Chairman race.
- The NPP's national officer elections are scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
- The outcome of the First Vice Chairman race will shape the party's leadership structure heading into the 2028 general elections.
