News
Former NPA boss Mustapha Abdul-Hamid accepts defeat in NPP vice chairmanship race
Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has accepted defeat in his bid to become a National Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Dr Abdul-Hamid polled 2,956 votes in the contest, falling 31 votes short of Nana Akomea, who secured the third and final Vice Chairmanship slot with 2,987 votes. Kojo Fosu Boadu polled 3,116 votes, while Henry Nana Boakye obtained 3,061 votes.
The election was held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as part of the NPP’s National Executive Conference, where the party elected new national executives.
In a statement issued after the election, Dr Abdul-Hamid said his ambition to become Vice National Chairman did not materialise, but stressed that the interest of the party was more important than his personal ambition.
“My ambition to be Vice National Chairman of the party did not materialize. But the interest of the party supersedes my personal ambition,” he stated.
He said he had contested several elections in his lifetime, winning some and losing others, adding that the experiences had shaped him over the years.
“I have contested many elections in my life time. I have won some and lost some. Indeed, such is life. In life, you win some and lose some,” he said.
Dr Abdul-Hamid congratulated the three successful candidates and pledged to support them and the party in achieving its objectives.
“I stand in readiness as I have done since 1992, to help them and by extension the party to realize its goals,” he stated.
He called for unity within the NPP and said the party must re-strategise, rebuild and reorganise ahead of the 2028 general elections.
“Together we shall re-strategize, rebuild and re-organize for 2028. The battle to recover our nation begins from within,” he said.
Dr Abdul-Hamid has been involved in the NPP since 1992 and previously served as the party’s first elected National Youth Organiser. He also served as Minister for Information and later as Chief Executive Officer of the NPA.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the party said interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period.
The party said a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000 would be charged to each prospective candidate.
It added that all applicants would undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility to contest on the party’s ticket.
The NPP announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December 2026. The workshops will be held across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones, with details of the venues to be announced later.
The party stressed that the guidelines would apply to all prospective candidates, including sitting NPP Members of Parliament who wish to contest again.
It further warned aspirants against starting campaign activities following the opening of the application process.
According to the statement, the existing directive prohibiting campaign activities remains in force until the party gives official clearance.
It cautioned that anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions under the party’s constitution and regulations.
The NPP said the process was designed to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants as it prepares to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.
It urged prospective candidates to follow the guidelines and conduct themselves with discipline and respect for one another throughout the process.
The party said its broader objective was to strengthen unity within its ranks and rebuild public confidence ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
eputy Foreign Minister accompanies Veep to Shanghai to champion Global South reform, industrial drive
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, accompanied Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on a successful working visit to Shanghai, China, from 15th to 19th October 2026, at the invitation of the East China Normal University (ECNU).
The highlight of the visit was the 2026 Global South Academic Forum held on 17th October, which brought together over 200 scholars, policymakers, political party leaders and media professionals from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, under the theme “Global South Political Parties: Governance and Modernisation.”
In her keynote address, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang asserted that political independence is only truly the beginning, stating that “winning political power and governing effectively are related but not the same responsibility.” She called for stronger South-South cooperation, multilateralism and reform of the global financial architecture to end debt traps, ensure fair risk assessments and promote climate policies that respect different national circumstances.
On 18th October, she addressed a business forum with Chinese investors, linking Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy policy to industrialization. Warning that training youth without factories creates unemployment, she appealed for factories to be established in Ghana to serve the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, with priority on value addition in cocoa processing, shea butter, cashew, coconut and timber.
On October 19, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Kojo Bonsu, hosted a dinner at the Shangri-La for the Vice-President, attended by members of the Ghanaian community and business leaders, who praised the thorough preparation by the Ghana Embassy staff for the visit.
Throughout the trip, Mr. Quayson coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align the engagements with Ghana’s jobs and transformation agenda.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
