Kofi Tonto Stresses Importance of Party Unity as NPP Flagbearer Race Takes Off: "Be Circumspect"

• Kofi Tonto has urged New Patriotic Party stakeholders to ensure peace prevails during its flagbearer race
• Tonto told YEN.com.gh party supporters and loyalists also needed to work to ensure unity in the party
• The New Patriotic Party has scheduled its presidential primaries for Saturday, 31st January 2026

An Akufo-Addo administration spokesperson and New Patriotic Party member, Kofi Tonto, expects party unity to be at the forefront as the party heads towards electing a flagbearer in some six months.

Tonto told YEN.com.gh party supporters and loyalists also needed to show an equal level of measure.

"Aspirants should come out with the message, go to the delegates and prosecute their campaign in a very respectful and unifying manner.”

Those of us who are very close to some of the leaders, it is up to us to be circumspect in our utterances and our behaviour in ensuring that we bring unity.”

Tonto further downplayed concerns that the NPP was undergoing a leadership crisis.

He acknowledged that the party was undergoing an expected rough patch following its 2024 election defeat.

But he expects the relatively quick selection of a flagbearer to get the party back on track and speed up the unification process as it makes a bid to return to power.

“Once you are able to select a leader early, you have enough time to work on unity. You are able to focus on one purpose.”

The NPP has scheduled its presidential primaries for Saturday, January 31, 2026.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee on June 17.

So far, the contenders that have emerged in the race have been Former MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong; Kwabena Agyapong; former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia; the MP for Bosomtwe, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and the former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong.

NPP MPs declare support for Dr Bawumia

Some NPP MPs are publicly backing Bawumia, assuring him of their support for his re-election bid.

The opposition MPs endorsed the former Vice-President's candidacy after paying a courtesy call on him at his residence on June 19.

From videos of the meeting circulating on social media, the MPs who pledged their support for Bawumia's candidacy included former Minister for Information, Works and Housing, and MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, MP for Afigya Kwabre North, Collins Adomako-Mensah, Walewale MP, Dr Kabiru Tia Mahama, MP for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, and MP for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah.

NPP National Chairman takes temporary leave

YEN.com.gh reported that the NPP National Chairman, Stephen Ayensu Ntim, has taken temporary leave from party duties.

In a letter addressed to the party's hierarchy on June 16, 2025, his family indicated that Mr Ntim was unwell and experiencing "cognitive dissonance and mental incapacitation".

In his absence, First Vice Chairperson Danquah Smith Buttey reportedly chaired the executive meeting held in Accra.

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, was also notably at the meeting.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh