A pro Kennedy Agyapong youth organization has projected that the former Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP) will secure approximately 52 to 53 percent of votes in Saturday’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primaries while urging party leadership to ensure a credible and peaceful electoral process. The group’s prediction aligns with recent polling data showing the race tightening significantly ahead of the delegate vote.
Philip Burberry Quaye, convener of Ken for the Masses, told the Asaase Breakfast Show on Friday that feedback from campaign rounds in Western, Bono and Ashanti regions indicates strong grassroots support for Agyapong. He described the businessman turned politician as someone who resonates well with ordinary Ghanaians and gives the NPP its best chance of recapturing power in the 2028 general elections. The youth group comprises young professionals, entrepreneurs, farmers, lawyers, educators and artisans.
Quaye’s projection matches findings from multiple recent opinion surveys. Sanity Africa, a Pan African civil society organization, released polling in late January showing Agyapong commanding 52 percent of delegate support compared to 40 percent for former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. Independent researcher Dr Evans Duah published similar findings earlier this month, projecting Agyapong at 52.59 percent with Bawumia at 36.24 percent based on interviews with 31,556 verified delegates across all 276 constituencies.
However, those projections conflict sharply with research from Global InfoAnalytics, which predicts Bawumia will win with 57 percent support against 28 percent for Agyapong. Executive Director Mussa Dankwa told media outlets his organization has conducted polling long enough to distinguish reliable data from questionable findings. He cited the enduring Bawumia Factor as outweighing Agyapong’s grassroots momentum, though he acknowledged competitive pockets for the challenger in Central and Ashanti regions.
The divergent polling results highlight uncertainty surrounding Saturday’s contest and suggest the race has tightened considerably from the 2023 primaries when Bawumia secured approximately 61 percent compared to 37 percent for Agyapong. Analysts note that both campaigns claim momentum heading into the final hours before polls open, with delegate sentiment appearing more fluid than during previous internal elections. The NPP has approximately 211,000 eligible voters who will determine the party’s standard bearer for 2028.
Quaye emphasized that the primary aim of every political party centers on winning power and argued many supporters believe Agyapong offers the best opportunity to defeat the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the next general election. He addressed concerns about internal party unity by insisting Agyapong would bring factions together if elected, pointing to his record of campaigning for the party after losing previous primaries. The youth organizer declared that unity remains non negotiable and noted Agyapong has always supported the NPP even in defeat.
Beyond electoral outcomes, Ken for the Masses issued its key demand for transparent and peaceful proceedings. Quaye said young party supporters want a credible election conducted fairly without chaos or irregularities. He suggested that if those conditions are met, everybody will rally behind whoever emerges victorious regardless of their preferred candidate. The statement reflects broader concerns about maintaining party cohesion following what promises to be a closely contested race with potentially disappointed factions.
The Sanity Africa survey revealed distinct demographic patterns in candidate preferences. Agyapong leads among female delegates with 57.8 percent support compared to 37.1 percent for Bawumia, while Bawumia holds advantages among male delegates at 48.9 percent versus 42.4 percent for his challenger. Age differences prove even more pronounced, with 63 percent of delegates under 40 favoring Agyapong compared to just 33.5 percent for Bawumia. Middle aged and older voters tilt toward the former Vice President.
Employment status emerged as another key dividing line. Among delegates in full time employment, Bawumia leads with 53.8 percent against Agyapong’s 41.9 percent. However, support shifts dramatically among the self employed including traders, market vendors, artisans, farmers and small business owners where Agyapong commands 55.5 percent compared to Bawumia’s 39.5 percent. Students show the strongest backing for Agyapong at 58.9 percent, while unemployed delegates favor him 52.8 percent to 39 percent.
Religious affiliation also influences voting patterns according to the polling data. Christian delegates largely favor Agyapong with 61.6 percent indicating support, while Muslim delegates prefer Bawumia at 52.8 percent. The demographic breakdowns suggest Agyapong has built a coalition centered on younger voters, women, the self employed, students and unemployed party members. Bawumia’s strength appears concentrated among older delegates, men, those in stable full time employment and Muslim constituents.
Meanwhile, former Ghana Ambassador to the Netherlands Dr Tony Aidoo publicly called on Agyapong to withdraw from the flagbearer race, describing him as unsuitable for the presidency. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, the NDC stalwart said his view stems from the kind of leadership he believes Ghana requires. Aidoo argued the country does not want a braggart who lies about people serving as president and flatly declared that Agyapong is not presidential material.
The harsh assessment from an opposition figure comes as the NPP prepares for internal elections scheduled for Saturday. Five candidates appear on the ballot including Bawumia, Agyapong, former Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Bryan Acheampong, former Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong. Acheampong polls third in most surveys with percentages ranging from 7 to 8.6 percent, while Adutwum and Kwabena Agyepong trail significantly below 3 percent.
Aidoo’s intervention represents an unusual public commentary on internal opposition party dynamics by a prominent NDC member. His criticism focuses specifically on temperament and character rather than policy positions or political ideology. The former ambassador’s remarks suggest that some in the ruling party view certain NPP candidates as more threatening than others in a potential 2028 matchup, though he did not explicitly endorse any particular opposition contender.
Party officials have emphasized the need for peaceful and credible proceedings throughout the primary campaign period. Abu Jinapor, a senior NPP figure, urged delegates to conduct themselves peacefully and choose a flagbearer who appeals beyond the party base to attract floating voters in general elections. The 2024 defeat to the NDC intensified internal debate about whether continuity or dramatic change offers the better path forward for opposition revival.
The primaries represent a pivotal moment as the NPP seeks direction following its comprehensive loss in December 2024 when President John Dramani Mahama secured 56.55 percent of votes compared to 41.61 percent for Bawumia. The party also lost its parliamentary majority and numerous regional and district level positions across the country. Internal pressure has mounted for renewal, with members debating competing visions about policy emphasis, messaging strategy and candidate profile.
Agyapong positions himself as an outsider businessman who can energize the base through focus on job creation and a combative political style willing to challenge both the ruling party and NPP establishment figures. He frequently cites his private sector record including schools, factories, media outlets and retail operations that employ thousands of Ghanaians. Supporters argue this practical experience in employment generation makes him uniquely qualified to attract investment and reduce youth joblessness.
Bawumia represents experience, policy expertise and institutional continuity despite electoral setback. His defenders highlight his national appeal across multiple constituencies, track record in government, and ability to unite different factions. They describe him as dynamic, adaptable to changing circumstances, calm under pressure and skilled at bringing divergent groups together. The former Vice President emphasizes digitalization, technology and structural reforms as key elements of his vision.
Smaller candidates including Acheampong, Adutwum and Kwabena Agyepong offer alternative pathways though opinion surveys suggest they trail substantially behind the two frontrunners. Acheampong has dismissed some polls as sponsored efforts designed to shape perceptions rather than measure genuine sentiment. Kwabena Agyepong maintains he will place among the top two candidates and force the contest into a second round, though polling data does not support that projection.
The NPP introduced the January date for presidential primaries in June 2025, scheduling internal elections more than two years before the general election. Officials said the early timing allows adequate preparation for whoever emerges as flagbearer. The winner will have 32 months to campaign nationally and rebuild party structures ahead of the 2028 contest against the governing NDC. Results are expected by late Saturday afternoon with an unveiling ceremony scheduled for 3 p.m. at party headquarters in Asylum Down.
Saturday’s vote will test competing visions for party revival and determine whether delegates prioritize electability, governing competence, ideological purity or some combination of factors. The outcome carries implications not just for the NPP but for Ghana’s broader political landscape as the country enters the second year of Mahama’s return to office. Whether Agyapong can convert polling advantages and youth enthusiasm into actual delegate votes or whether Bawumia’s institutional advantages and establishment support prove decisive will become clear within hours.
