Former Vice President engages German political foundation on Ghana’s political and economic direction, party restructuring, leadership development and policy formulation ahead of the 2028 elections.

Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has held discussions with the Secretary-General of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Dr Mark Speich, on Ghana’s future and efforts to reorganise the opposition party.

The meeting took place in Accra on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the KAS Ghana office, with discussions focusing on Ghana’s political landscape, the NPP’s internal restructuring and opportunities to strengthen cooperation with the German political foundation.

Following the meeting, Dr Bawumia reiterated his commitment to rebuilding the NPP and making it more responsive to the concerns and aspirations of Ghanaians.

He said deliberate efforts had been undertaken over the past two years to strengthen the party’s internal structures as it prepares for the 2028 general elections.

The former Vice President also briefed Dr Speich on two major initiatives central to his vision for the party: the Patriotic Institute and the NPP Policy Unit.

Focus on leadership and policy development

Dr Bawumia described the two initiatives as important to the party’s long-term development, particularly in preparing future political leaders and expanding opportunities for young people to participate in public service.

The Patriotic Institute is intended to support leadership development, while the Policy Unit is expected to strengthen the formulation of policies grounded in evidence and designed to be financially sustainable and practical to implement.

According to Dr Bawumia, the broader objective is to build a more inclusive and ideas-driven party with the capacity to develop workable solutions to Ghana’s challenges.

He stressed the importance of strengthening the NPP’s intellectual and policy foundations as part of its efforts to regain political power.

The initiatives are expected to contribute to the party’s institutional development beyond electoral campaigning, with an emphasis on leadership training, policy research and effective governance.

Strengthening cooperation with KAS

Dr Bawumia also acknowledged KAS’s longstanding relationship with the NPP and expressed interest in deepening the partnership.

KAS is a German political foundation affiliated with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). It has worked with the NPP over the years on programmes involving democratic governance, institutional strengthening and policy development.

The engagement forms part of Dr Bawumia’s broader consultations with international partners and local stakeholders as the party pursues its reorganisation ahead of the next general election.

The discussions come as the NPP seeks to consolidate its structures, improve internal coordination and prepare its policy agenda for the 2028 polls.

Dr Bawumia’s emphasis on leadership development and evidence-based policymaking signals an effort to position the party as an organisation focused not only on winning elections but also on developing practical proposals for Ghana’s sustainable development.

NDC stalwart Said Sinare accuses the opposition of turning allegations against the Foreign Affairs Minister into a political strategy as controversy over Ghana’s South Africa evacuation continues.

A former National Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Said Sinare, has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of exploiting controversies surrounding Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in an attempt to revive its political fortunes.

Mr Sinare’s position comes amid escalating exchanges between the NPP and the governing NDC over allegations of financial irregularities in Ghana’s evacuation of citizens from South Africa.

The NPP has demanded Mr Ablakwa’s resignation and called for an independent audit of the expenditure, arguing that discrepancies in records relating to the exercise require further investigation.

The minister, however, has denied wrongdoing and insisted that all evacuees received their entitlements.

Mr Sinare’s criticism reflects the growing political tension surrounding the matter, with the NDC accusing the opposition of using the controversy to undermine the minister’s reputation and damage the government’s public image.

Dispute over evacuation expenditure

The controversy centres on the reported GH¢49.72 million spent on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks and threats against foreign nationals.

The NPP has demanded the publication of supporting documents, including charter-flight invoices, payment vouchers and records showing payments made to individual evacuees.

It has also called for an independent audit and threatened further parliamentary action if its concerns are not adequately addressed.

The Minority in Parliament has separately called for Mr Ablakwa’s resignation and indicated that it could pursue a vote of censure against him under Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution.

Mr Ablakwa has rejected allegations that public funds are missing, maintaining that the evacuation was conducted to protect Ghanaians in distress and that the expenditure can be accounted for.

The competing claims have intensified debate over public accountability, the handling of humanitarian operations and the role of political parties in scrutinising government expenditure.

Political implications

Mr Sinare’s remarks come as both the NDC and NPP position themselves ahead of the 2028 general elections.

The NPP has made the evacuation expenditure a major issue in its criticism of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, while NDC figures have questioned the opposition’s motives and the consistency of its allegations.

The dispute has also expanded beyond the evacuation exercise, with the NPP announcing plans for a November 3 demonstration over the controversy and other issues relating to diplomatic and service passports.

However, the allegations against Mr Ablakwa have not been conclusively established, and the calls for an audit underscore the need for the relevant records to be examined independently.

The controversy is likely to remain a source of political contention as both parties seek to shape public opinion over accountability and governance ahead of the next general election.

Prospective candidates, including sitting MPs, have until November 10 to declare their intention to contest the party’s parliamentary primaries ahead of the 2028 general elections.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced a GH¢5,000 fee for members seeking to contest its parliamentary primaries ahead of the 2028 general elections, as it introduces a new registration process for prospective candidates.

The party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, announced on Thursday, October 29, 2026, that an online portal would open from November 1 to November 10 for interested members to formally declare their intention to contest.

The exercise will apply to all prospective parliamentary candidates, including sitting Members of Parliament seeking re-election on the party’s ticket.

According to Mr Kodua Frimpong, the declaration of interest is an initial step in the candidate selection process and does not constitute the formal opening of nominations.

Prospective candidates are expected to register through the party’s designated online portal, ppc.nppghana.org, and pay the non-refundable fee of GH¢5,000.

Eligibility checks and capacity building

Mr Kodua Frimpong said the new process was intended to help the party assess the eligibility of prospective candidates before formal nominations begin.

He explained that the party would examine whether applicants meet the requirements of the NPP constitution and the relevant laws of Ghana governing parliamentary candidacy.

The party also plans to organise training and capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates to prepare them for the responsibilities associated with parliamentary office.

The initiative forms part of the NPP’s preparations to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.

The party says the process is designed to promote transparency, fairness and orderly competition among aspirants while strengthening its internal structures.

Campaigning remains prohibited

The General Secretary cautioned prospective candidates against interpreting the registration exercise as permission to begin campaigning in their constituencies.

He stressed that the party’s existing directive prohibiting campaign activities by aspirants, their agents and supporters remained in force.

“We have still not opened nominations, and we have still not asked people to go around to campaign,” Mr Kodua Frimpong said, explaining that the declaration of interest was only the first stage of the process.

The party has warned that aspirants who violate its campaign restrictions could face sanctions under its constitution and regulations.

The declaration period will be followed by further stages, including eligibility screening, formal nominations and vetting, before the NPP selects its parliamentary candidates.

The new arrangement is expected to shape competition within the party as sitting MPs and potential challengers position themselves for the opportunity to represent the NPP in the 2028 general elections.

Regional First Vice Chairman Amofa Jantuah leads calls for the cancellation of appointments to four newly created executive positions, citing alleged breaches of party guidelines.

A group of elected executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region has petitioned the party’s National Steering Committee to cancel appointments made by Regional Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as Chairman COKA, to newly created regional executive positions.

The petitioners allege that the appointments were made in violation of the party’s constitution and guidelines issued for filling the new positions.

The petition, dated October 28, 2026, was signed by the Regional First Vice Chairman, Amofa Jantuah, and calls on the National Steering Committee, National Council and National Executive Committee (NEC) to intervene and supervise a fresh appointment process.

The disputed positions are two Deputy Regional Vice Chairpersons, a Deputy Regional Communications Officer and a Regional IT Officer.

According to the petition, the appointments followed the adoption of Motions 2, 3, 4 and 5 at the NPP’s 2026 National Delegates Conference. The party’s General Secretary subsequently issued guidelines on October 16, 2026, for filling newly created regional and constituency executive positions.

The petitioners contend that the guidelines require elected regional officers to consult the NEC through the General Secretary and ensure that appointments are made through a transparent and inclusive process.

However, they allege that Chairman COKA failed to comply with those requirements.

Dispute over consultation

One of the major concerns raised in the petition is the alleged involvement of appointed officers in the selection process.

The petitioners claim that the regional chairman involved officers such as the Financial Secretary, Special Duties Officer, Research Officer, Electoral Officer and Legal Officer, alongside deputy officers, in selecting the new executives.

They argue that the guidelines place the responsibility for consultation on elected regional officers and that the participation of appointed officers undermined the fairness of the process.

The petition further alleges that Mr Jantuah cautioned the regional chairman against proceeding with what he considered an improper procedure.

According to the document, Chairman COKA rejected the caution and invoked what the petition describes as a “veto power”, prompting the first vice chairman to walk out of the meeting in protest.

The petitioners also claim that most elected regional executives opposed the procedure, but the appointments proceeded despite their objections.

Calls for cancellation

The group is asking the party’s national leadership to cancel all appointments to the four positions and prevent the appointees from assuming office or acting in those roles while the petition remains unresolved.

It has also requested that the national leadership supervise a fresh process in accordance with the party’s constitution and the General Secretary’s guidelines.

The petitioners say their action is intended to promote unity, restore confidence in the regional leadership and strengthen the party ahead of the 2028 general elections.

As of the time of reporting, the petition did not indicate whether the National Steering Committee or Chairman COKA had formally responded to the allegations.

The party’s national chairman urges unsuccessful candidates to accept the results and work with newly elected constituency executives to strengthen the party ahead of the 2028 elections.

The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has expressed confidence that the party will emerge stronger from its constituency-level executive elections, urging members to remain united despite the outcome of the polls.

He said the success of the exercise would depend not only on the candidates elected but also on the willingness of winners and unsuccessful aspirants to work together to strengthen the party’s structures.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah made the remarks in a statement following the constituency elections held across the country, congratulating the newly elected executives and commending candidates for their discipline during the campaigns.

He also praised party members for the restraint and maturity they demonstrated throughout the process, while acknowledging the electoral committees, regional and constituency officers, and others who helped ensure the elections were conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner.

The NDC chairman urged the newly elected constituency executives to work towards bringing all members on board as the party prepares for the 2028 general elections.

He encouraged them to see their election as a responsibility to serve the party at the grassroots level and help consolidate its structures.

Call for unity

Mr Asiedu Nketiah also appealed to candidates who lost their contests to accept the results in good faith and remain actively involved in party activities.

He stressed that losing an internal election should not be interpreted as a rejection by the party, noting that only one person could occupy a particular position at a time.

He encouraged unsuccessful aspirants to remain committed, adding that they could have opportunities to contribute to the party in other capacities in the future.

“What matters is not who wins, but how that person wins and how we can put the party together after the election,” he said.

The chairman explained that he had deliberately refrained from attending constituency elections across the country to avoid influencing delegates’ choices or creating the impression that he favoured particular candidates.

He said his position required him to remain neutral so he could reconcile members and unite the party regardless of who emerged victorious.

“Everybody in the NDC is my friend and family member,” he said, emphasising that supporting some candidates at the expense of others could undermine his ability to bring the party together.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah said the task of organising the party, listening to members and strengthening its grassroots structures must now take priority.

He maintained that unity after the polls would be crucial to consolidating the party’s position and preparing for the next general election.