NPP Faces Internal Rift As 2028 Election Looms

On January 31, 2026, the political landscape of Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) was thrust into the spotlight as Kobina Tahiru Hammond, the former Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, voiced his deep concerns about the party’s future and internal rifts. Hammond, a seasoned politician and a figure well-acquainted with the party’s inner workings, didn’t mince words about the challenges facing the NPP as it looks ahead to the 2028 general elections.

In an interview with Citi News, Hammond laid bare what he sees as the NPP’s most pressing issue: unity. The party, which suffered a stinging defeat in the 2024 elections, is still reeling from the aftermath, and Hammond believes that the path back to power hinges on healing internal divisions. “We will beat the NDC God-willing, no doubt about that. I have never given the NDC credit for the election they won, though I kind of support them. I tell the whole country that the NDC hasn’t done anything. Talk about my own constituency, the guy who won the seat here wasn’t campaigning to win, but we NPP decided that we would not vote,” Hammond said, as reported by Citi News.

Hammond’s remarks point to a sobering reality for the NPP: their loss was not the result of a resurgent opposition, but rather, an erosion of enthusiasm among their own ranks. He cited the example of Afigya Kwabre, where a staggering 59,000 NPP supporters stayed home on election day. “I was astonished to hear that in Afigya Kwabre, as many as 59,000 NPP members stayed at home. That is how we ended up the way we have ended up,” he lamented.

For Hammond, this voter apathy is a symptom of deeper fractures within the party. He stressed that before the NPP can hope to reclaim power, it must first address the grievances and disillusionment festering among its members. “I am sure by the time of the next election; we will all come together and resolve our grievances and know why they decided not to vote. The difficulty is not with the 2028 election. The difficulty I am alluding to is what is facing us as a party now. How do we reconcile?” he questioned, underscoring the urgency of internal reconciliation.

But party unity isn’t the only storm cloud on the horizon. Hammond also opened up about a personal and highly publicized rift with Kennedy Agyapong, a prominent NPP figure and former presidential hopeful. Despite their close friendship, Hammond revealed that he could not support Agyapong’s bid for the NPP’s presidential nomination—a decision rooted in both personal affront and principle.

According to Hammond, the relationship soured after Agyapong insulted him during a heated exchange over a controversial public issue. “Ken insulted me as if he had gone mad, as if he had gone bonkers. He said whatever he wanted to say to me. And I’m telling you, the wife that I mentioned was crying in the car. They were shouting at him, Ken, this is actually KT you are talking to. What is the matter?” Hammond recounted to Citi News.

Yet, it was not just the personal slight that drove a wedge between the two men. Hammond disclosed that Agyapong had privately asserted that a Muslim could not become president in Ghana—a statement Hammond found both offensive and unacceptable. “But he had been going on about this Muslim thing. In private, he had told me that if you were Muslim, you cannot be a president in Ghana. I told him, you are talking nonsense. Four people who ‘shocked’ Kennedy Agyapong in the 2026 presidential primaries,” Hammond recalled.

He continued, “Keep this between the two of us. You go out and you talk nonsense like that; there will be a problem. You know I’m a Muslim. Do you people know I’m a Muslim? And I go and follow Ken for him to spread the message that as a Muslim; you can’t be president. You think I’m mad? Apart from his money, what has distinguished me from Kennedy Agyapong? If he could be president, you think I can’t be president? Tell me, I can be president, Ken can be president. And you expect me to go and follow him and send a campaign to Muslims that we Muslims cannot be president.”

Hammond’s refusal to support Agyapong was not just a matter of personal pride, but a stand against what he saw as divisive and discriminatory rhetoric. He emphasized that, aside from Agyapong’s wealth, he considers himself equal in stature and, as a Muslim, equally qualified to lead the country. For Hammond, the idea that religious identity should disqualify anyone from the presidency is not only baseless but harmful to the fabric of Ghanaian democracy.

His candidness has sparked a broader conversation within the NPP and among political observers about the role of identity and inclusivity in Ghanaian politics. The NPP, like many political parties worldwide, is no stranger to internal disputes and ideological differences, but the public airing of such grievances—especially involving high-profile figures—underscores the depth of the party’s current challenges.

Meanwhile, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP finds itself at a crossroads. The task of reuniting the party ahead of the 2028 elections is, as Hammond put it, arduous. The NEC must navigate not only the fallout from the 2024 defeat but also the lingering tensions and mistrust that have surfaced in its wake. Hammond’s insistence that the party’s immediate concern should be healing internal divisions rather than focusing solely on electoral strategy is a call to action for party leaders.

Looking ahead, Hammond remains optimistic about the NPP’s prospects, provided the party can bridge its divides and restore the confidence of its base. His belief that the NPP can “beat the NDC God-willing” is tempered by the recognition that victory at the polls will require more than just political maneuvering—it will demand genuine reconciliation and a renewed sense of purpose among party members.

The events and revelations of January 31, 2026, serve as a stark reminder that in politics, as in life, success is often determined not just by external competition but by the ability to resolve internal conflicts. For the NPP, the road to 2028 will be shaped as much by the willingness to confront and address its own shortcomings as by the actions of its rivals. As the party grapples with questions of unity, identity, and leadership, the eyes of the nation—and indeed, the world—will be watching to see how it responds.

For now, the NPP’s future hangs in the balance, with reconciliation and inclusivity standing as the keys to unlocking its path forward.