A former presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Arthur Kennedy, has rejected calls within the party to rush the election of its next presidential candidate, insisting that the NPP must first address deep internal cracks, apologise to Ghanaians for poor governance, and rebuild genuine grassroots trust.

Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints programme on Saturday, June 28, Dr Kennedy dismissed as “pure nonsense” the argument that electing a flagbearer early — currently planned for 31 January 2026, almost three years ahead of the 2028 general election — would help unite the party.

“That is pure nonsense,” he said. “Those pushing this idea are running from their shadows. What this party needs is accountability and total renewal, from the polling stations up to the presidential candidate. Until we fix the cracks and face why we lost, electing a flagbearer now solves nothing.”

Rather than quick-fix strategies, Dr Kennedy argued that the NPP’s top priority should be to rebuild its internal structures and restore credibility at the grassroots level. He noted that the party’s loss of its parliamentary majority in 2020 was proof that it had lost touch with its base.

“We need to renew leadership all the way down — polling stations, constituency chairpersons, national executives — and only then choose a presidential candidate,” he said. “The real foundation of the party is the local leadership. They help us win parliamentary seats, which ultimately make it possible for the President to govern.”

He warned that the current system — in which a small group of delegates selects candidates — fuels vote-buying and alienates ordinary members.

Push for universal primaries

Dr Kennedy is instead calling for a more open, inclusive primary system that gives every registered NPP member a say in choosing both parliamentary and presidential candidates — similar to systems used in the United States and Canada.

“We should borrow from the American and Canadian systems,” he explained. “Let every party member vote. You can’t bribe everybody in Bantama or Walewale. It will demonetise politics and make the party more accountable.”

He suggested that the Electoral Commission’s voter database could be used to verify party allegiance, allowing millions of genuine supporters to participate in internal elections rather than a small, easily influenced delegate group.

Dr Kennedy stressed that the party’s survival depends on facing uncomfortable truths, deepening internal democracy, and reconnecting with the people it claims to represent.

“The lesson from 2020 is not to have less democracy but more,” he said. “We must open up our primaries, apologise for our mistakes and stop pretending shortcuts will fix the rot. The NPP is better than the party and government we saw in the last eight years — but we must prove it to the people.”

The NPP has officially scheduled its presidential primary for 31 January 2026. Among the likely contenders are Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Agyapong, and Bryan Acheampong. But for Dr Kennedy, the priority must be clear: fix the party first — then choose its leader.

‘We failed Ghanaians — we must apologise’

Assessing the party’s record in office, Dr Kennedy said the NPP’s years in power were marked by reckless governance, corruption and impunity — which rightly pushed many disillusioned supporters to either stay home or vote for the opposition.

“We governed recklessly and incompetently. We failed Ghanaians, and we failed our tradition,” he said. “The electorate punished us — and they were right. We’re not entitled to anyone’s votes. We must apologise and earn back trust through real reforms and good ideas.”