Sarfo Kantanka warns NPP delegates ahead of January 31 presidential primaries
Political Scientist Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka has cautioned delegates of the New Patriotic Party to wake up and select a winnable candidate other than Dr. Bawumia in the party’s presidential primaries scheduled for January 31, 2026.
In a press statement issued on December 2, 2025, Sarfo Kantanka urged the party to reflect on its defeat in the 2024 elections and avoid a similar outcome in the 2028 general election by voting out Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. He argued that in order to save the NPP, delegates must consider an alternative candidate, as the key factors that influence electoral outcomes in Ghana do not favor Dr. Bawumia.
Below is the statement issued by Sarfo Kantanka…CONTINUE MORE READING>>>
WAKE UP FROM YOUR SLEEP NPP!
YOU NEED A NEW CANDIDATE TO BETTER YOUR CHANCES IN 2028 ELECTIONS.
The members of the New Patriotic Party and the Party’s delegates in particular, must
note that their presidential primaries slated for 31st January 2026, are a contest to elect a Flagbearer for the December 2028 general elections, and not a contest to elect the Party’s National Chairman or General Secretary. It is, therefore, imperative for the delegates to elect a candidate whom a greater section of Ghanaians will trust and would be convinced to vote for.
It is an undeniable fact that trivialities such as ethnicity, tribe and religion, play a greater
role in politics in Ghana.
Whoever denies this, is just being politically dishonest. At
least, one of the pointers should favour a would-be Flagbearer.
In addition to the aforementioned points, one major question that electorates ask is, who can best manage the economy? The Ghanaian electorates consider which
candidate has credibility and deserves their trust to manage, particularly, the economy
of Ghana. At the moment, in the minds of many Ghanaians, the NPP’s Flagbearer for the
2024 election, Dr. Bawumia, does not appear credible to manage Ghana’s economy.
That is not to say Dr. Bawumia is incompetent to manage the economy. But the
economic performance of the erstwhile Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, dented his
image as an “economic Messiah.” The release of the dollar from the “custody of the
IGP”, shattered Ghanaians trust for and hope in Dr. Bawumia, and it would be suicidal
for the NPP to present him as the Party’s candidate for the 2028 general elections.
None of the odds (ethnicity/tribe, religion, and trust) favours Dr. Bawumia. This is a
painful fact that the New Patriotic Party cannot just wish away.
Considering that the Mahama-led NDC government has artificially succeeded in
managing the Cedi, therefore, giving hopes to Ghanaians that the NDC can better
manage the economy, the key questions to ask are:
1. What will be Dr. Bawumia’s message to Ghanaians, that will make him look more
capable to better manage the Ghanaian economy?
2. Can Dr. Bawumia talk about economic management in Ghana again?
3. Can he set economic questions for his main contender, as he did for the late Paa
Kwesi Amissah-Arthur?
4. Above all, Dr. Bawumia promised the NPP delegates in 2023 that if he becomes the
Flagbearer of the party, he will bring the Northern and Muslim votes. The 2024 elections
proved otherwise. Will he get their votes in 2028? What will change?
The NPP delegates should know that the 31st January elections will determine the
future of the party, as to whether the NPP will be reresuscitated to its previous life and
strength, and compete effectively in 2028, as it used to, or whether we will bid a long-
term farewell to the great Elephant.
Certainly, the defeat in 2024, was the most humiliating electoral defeat ever suffered by
the party under the 4th Republic. Out of the five (5) electoral defeats to the NPP since
1992, with the exception of 2024, the party lost the other four (4) with an increase in
popular votes.
Yes! President Kuffour, after losing the 1996 elections, was given another chance
because his votes appreciated compared to the votes garnered by Professor Adu
Boahen in 1992.
Similarly, Nana Akufo-Addo was given a second chance in 2012 because the votes he
obtained in 2008 surpassed what President Kuffour got in 2004. Further, Nana Akufo-
Addo was given a third chance because in 2012, his votes appreciated again.
Contrary, in 2024, under the steermanship of Dr. Alhaji Bawumia, the NPP lost by a
decrease in popular votes of over 1.7 million, despite the EC registering an additional 2
million voters. This performance was exceptionally abysmal.
Compared to his predecessors, the 2024 defeat suggests that Dr. Bawumia is not
marketable, after being marketed for sixteen (16) years as running mate and Vice
President. The NPP will, therefore, need a new and a marketable candidate for the election
2028.
It was a big mistake for the NPP to have elected Bawumia for the 2024 elections and the
party’s votes will decline further if he is elected again to lead the party for the 2028
elections. They should not gamble with the future of the NPP, it will serve them good to
make the right choice this time on 31st January 2026. I have no doubt in my mind that,
this is exactly what Musah Dankwa tried to sum up to the NPP by saying that, it will
serve the interest of the NPP if Dr. Bawumia opts out of the NPP presidential race. But
since he will not opt out, the onus lies on delegates to safeguard the NPP from absolute collapse! You have a political duty to save the elephant now!
collapse! You have a political duty to save the elephant now!
Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka
Political Scientist