Ghana News Online

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is set to sign a peace pact with all five presidential aspirants on Thursday, January 22, as the party seeks to promote peace and address internal divisions ahead of the presidential primaries scheduled for January 31, 2026.

Speaking on Asaase Radio on Saturday, January 17, the Member of Parliament for Effia and member of the NPP’s presidential election committee, Isaac Yaw Boamah-Nyarko, noted that the agreement, which would be signed together with former presidents of the party and the National Peace Council, will commit aspirants to a peaceful contest and acceptance of the outcome.

“On Thursday, we are going to sign the peace pact. All the aspirants, together with our former presidents and the peace council, will sign a peace pact that commits them to the outcome of the election. The peace pact is to make it clear that whether you win or lose, you owe it to the party to pull everybody along,” he said.

According to the Effia lawmaker, the decision aims at securing the party from factional tensions and security incidents that could undermine the credibility of the process, stressing that the flagbearer race would be conducted under strict law enforcement oversight.

The January 31 Presidential primaries is keenly contested by five distinguished individuals of the NPP, including the former Vice President and the 2024 flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Food and Agriculture Minister and Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Dr. Bryan Acheampong.

Others are former Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and the party’s former General Secretary, Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.

Considering the high stakes in the upcoming elections, the MP stated that the Ghana Police Service would have full control of security during the election, warning that vigilantism, intimidation, or the use of private security by aspirants would not be tolerated.

“No machoism, no bodyguardism will be entertained,” he said, adding that police had been instructed to clamp down on any attempts to disrupt the process.

According to Mr. Boamah-Nyarko, the five aspirants had been briefed on the rules and were participating directly in the management of the process, which he described as transparent and inclusive, further urging aspirants to campaign on ideas and track records rather than personal attacks, warning that internal divisions could weaken the party’s prospects against the ruling National Democratic Congress, which is expected to present face in 2028.

“This party has survived worse moments,” he said, adding that unity after the flagbearer election would be key to restoring public confidence and positioning the NPP for a return to power.