Bawumia names all four NPP flagbearer race rivals as co-chairs of party’s policy committees

Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mahamudu Bawumia, has taken a major step toward strengthening party unity by appointing all four of his former rivals in the January 2026 presidential primaries as co-chairmen of the party’s newly created Policy Committees.

The move is widely being interpreted by political observers as a strategic effort to consolidate the party and project a united front ahead of Ghana’s next general election.

According to the flagbearer’s office, the appointments form part of a comprehensive and data-driven policy framework aimed at repositioning the NPP as a credible government-in-waiting capable of presenting practical and evidence-based solutions to national challenges.

The newly established Policy Committee structure is expected to coordinate policy development across major sectors of the economy and governance while generating alternative proposals on employment, education, healthcare, infrastructure, energy, security, decentralisation, and economic management.

Officials say Dr. Bawumia’s objective is to move the party beyond conventional opposition criticism and toward proactive governance preparation built on detailed policy research and stakeholder engagement.

At the top of the framework is the NPP Policy Committee, chaired by Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, former Minister for Works and Housing and Information. Kwasi Nyame Baafi has been appointed Secretary to the Committee, a role expected to provide strong intellectual and administrative coordination.

The committee will supervise several sector-specific sub-committees tasked with conducting independent research, consulting industry experts, and developing policy alternatives backed by verifiable data for final review by the flagbearer.

Former Rivals Given Strategic Roles

Businessman and former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong has been appointed Co-Chairman of the Employment and Jobs Policy Committee, reflecting his long-standing focus on entrepreneurship, industrialisation, and private sector-led job creation.

Former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong will serve as Co-Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Policy Committee, an area considered critical amid growing concerns over housing deficits and urban planning challenges in Ghana.

Former Minister for Food and Agriculture and Interior, Bryan Acheampong, has been named Co-Chairman of the Defence and Interior Policy Committee, drawing on his experience in national security and governance.

Meanwhile, former Education Minister Yaw Osei Adutwum has been appointed Co-Chairman of the Education Policy Committee, where he is expected to contribute his experience in educational reform and policy innovation.

Signal of Party Unity

Political analysts believe the appointments go beyond administrative restructuring and represent a deliberate attempt by Dr. Bawumia to heal internal divisions following the competitive presidential primaries.

By assigning prominent roles to all four former contenders, the NPP leadership appears determined to demonstrate unity, inclusiveness, and collective preparation ahead of the next election cycle.

The flagbearer’s office indicated that Dr. Bawumia’s broader vision is to transform the NPP into a policy-driven political organisation focused on governance readiness and solution-based politics.

Observers say the composition of the new Policy Committee framework signals that the party is now shifting its full attention from internal competition to national electoral preparation and policy development.