New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart Dr Arthur Kennedy says the party should reconsider its approach to selecting running mates if it hopes to regain power, suggesting a fresh pairing would better signal change to voters.
Speaking on Joy News on Wednesday, the medical doctor and former presidential aspirant stated he would not advise any flagbearer to retain a previous running mate following the party’s defeat in the December 2024 elections.
Dr Kennedy specifically referenced Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who served as running mate to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the 2024 race. While describing the former Energy Minister as an interesting person, Kennedy argued the pairing did not succeed, citing remarks he believes alienated voters.
“When you go back to the public with the same people, you are telling them you want to do the same things again,” Kennedy explained, adding that younger voters are less bound by traditional party loyalty than in previous decades.
The comments come as the NPP prepares to elect a new flagbearer at its delegates conference scheduled for January 31, 2026. Dr Bawumia won the primary contest on Saturday, defeating multiple challengers to secure the party’s nomination for the 2028 elections.
Dr Kennedy also criticized what he described as worsening monetization within the party and declining inclusivity despite an expanded delegate system. He referenced former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s approach to managing factions, suggesting the party has lost that unifying instinct.
The NPP veteran expressed concern about the breakdown of meritocracy within party structures, claiming some current executives damage public perception. He contrasted modern political financing with earlier periods when limited resources encouraged unity and sacrifice.
On internal reforms that designate the party chairman as official leader rather than the flagbearer, Kennedy questioned both the process and practicality. He argued that whoever controls state resources inevitably becomes the dominant figure, making presidents the de facto party leaders regardless of formal titles.
Turning to the current government, Kennedy offered mixed assessments of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration. He acknowledged the president’s accessibility and communication skills but stressed that governance ultimately requires tangible results.
On illegal mining, Kennedy gave an incomplete grade, while awarding a B for economic management. He noted positive macroeconomic indicators but emphasized limited visible impact on everyday livelihoods, stating he wants to see jobs created on the ground.
The NPP lost the 2024 presidential election to Mahama, who secured approximately 56 percent of votes against Bawumia’s 41 percent. The party also lost its parliamentary majority, with the National Democratic Congress winning 183 seats compared to the NPP’s 88 in the 275-member legislature.
President Mahama was inaugurated on January 7, 2025, beginning his second non-consecutive term. His government has announced several economic initiatives including the Accelerated Export Development Advisory Committee aimed at growing non-traditional exports from 3.5 billion dollars to 10 billion dollars by 2030.
The NPP has experienced internal tensions since the election defeat, including controversy over attempts to expel Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng following his criticism of party leadership. Kennedy previously urged reconciliation rather than expulsion in that case.
