By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
One hundred and eighteen out of the 276 parliamentary candidates who contested on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 elections have publicly thrown their support behind Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s bid to contest the party’s 2028 presidential primaries.
The group, addressing the media at a press conference held in Accra on Thursday, January 8, 2026, described Dr Bawumia, the NPP’s 2024 presidential candidate who is seeking to lead the party again in 2028, as the most prepared and winnable candidate.
The group explained that their endorsement was based on Dr Bawumia’s experience, competence, vision, and leadership qualities, insisting that none of the other flagbearer hopefuls could be compared to him.
Speaking on behalf of the group, former Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, said the members had carefully assessed the credentials of all aspirants contesting the party’s sole flagbearership slot and had come to the conclusion that Dr Bawumia was best suited for the position.
“We have followed the campaigns of all these fine gentlemen of our party, some of whom have chalked up immense successes in business, governance, and the policy space.
“However, when all the key parameters required for leading our great party into the 2028 election are taken together, we are convinced that none of them match up to the pedigree, experience, competence, vision, bold ideas, humility, and compassion that Dr Bawumia embodies today,” he said.
Mr Egyapa Mercer described Dr Bawumia as “the most prepared, formidable, and winnable candidate” to lead the NPP into the 2028 general election.
The group also dismissed suggestions that their endorsement was influenced by inducement or pressure, stressing that the decision was taken freely and in the best interest of both the party and the country.
“Whether we have sought our constituencies’ opinion in the yet-to-be-organised parliamentary primaries or not is immaterial. Our personal ambitions have no bearing whatsoever on our collective resolve to support Dr Bawumia,” he said.
Mr Egyapa Mercer added that none of the candidates had been induced, compelled, or coerced into supporting the former Vice President, urging the public to disregard any claims to the contrary.
