Afadjato South MP Challenges Viability of NPP Aspirants Without Party Support
Accra, June 24, 2025 — Member of Parliament for Afadjato South, Frank Afriyie, has strongly dismissed the notion that any of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopefuls could succeed in a general election without the full backing of the party’s structures.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Tuesday, Afriyie argued that even the most popular aspirants, including former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, would struggle to secure more than 5% of the national vote if they were to run as independent candidates.
“If Dr. Bawumia, Kennedy Agyapong or any of the aspirants believe they are that formidable, they should try going as independent candidates; they won’t cross 5%,” Afriyie asserted.
He emphasised that the strength of Ghana’s political system lies in party loyalty and machinery, not individual charisma.
“It is not for nothing that candidates who stand in the name of the NDC or NPP always perform very well in general elections. It is because of the machinery that they represent and the party structures,” he explained.
Critique of Premature Endorsements
Afriyie’s comments come on the heels of a high-profile endorsement by a coalition of 220 former Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) who served under the NPP administration between 2017 and 2024. The group publicly declared their support for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to lead the party in the 2028 general elections.
But Afriyie criticised such endorsements as ego-boosting rather than strategic, warning that the real work lies in rebuilding grassroots support and addressing internal party challenges.
“Any right-thinking party officer should be more interested in fixing the party from the base, not engaging in premature public endorsements,” he said.
Background on the MMDCEs’ Endorsement
On Monday, June 23, the former MMDCEs held a press conference at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, declaring Dr. Bawumia as the most capable and visionary candidate to lead the NPP. They pledged political, logistical, and financial backing for his campaign ahead of the party’s January 31, 2026 internal primaries.
They also touted Dr. Bawumia’s achievements in digital transformation, economic formalisation, and inclusive leadership, framing him as the NPP’s best bet to win the presidency in 2028.
However, Frank Afriyie’s comments signal a growing rift within the party, as calls for unity, restructuring, and broader consultation begin to clash with early campaign positioning.
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