Mr Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko has emerged as the leading candidate in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairmanship contest, according to a nationwide delegate preference survey conducted by the Ghana Watch Initiative International.
The survey, conducted from September 1 to 12, 2026 puts the former Energy Minister ahead of his three main contenders with 51.81 per cent support among the 2,098 constituency executives sampled across all 16 regions and 276 constituencies.
Former NPP General Secretary, John Boadu, placed second with 32.32 per cent, followed by former National Chairman, Paul Afoko, with 12.39 per cent, while Sammy Crabbe polled 3.48 per cent.
The findings, contained in the corrected edition of the report commissioned by the Ghana Watch Initiative International, a Ghana-based research-driven think tank focused on evidence-based policy analysis and national development, suggest that Mr Agyarko currently commands a substantial lead ahead of the NPP’s national chairmanship election later this year.
The survey said Mr Agyarko led in 13 of the 16 regions, while Mr Boadu recorded an edge in Bono, Central and Savannah regions.
It said the results were based on a stratified random sampling approach, with regional weighting and constituency-level normalisation used to assess candidate preference, regional strengths, coalition potential and electability.
The survey, however, covered 2,098 constituency executives, representing 40 per cent of the 5,244 constituency baseline of 19 constituency executives across each of the 276 constituencies.
The report noted that the official statutory delegate population under the NPP Constitution was 7,160, comprising regional executives, Members of Parliament, National executives, the Council of elders, patrons, external branches, TESCON representatives and other statutory delegates.
First-ballot claim
Based on its projection of the survey results onto the official 7,160-member delegate college, the report estimated that Mr Agyarko could secure about 3,710 votes.
That figure is above the 3,581 votes required for an outright first-ballot victory, according to the survey’s projection. Mr Boadu was projected to obtain about 2,314 votes, Mr Afoko 887 and Mr Crabbe 249 delegate votes.
The report also warned that Mr Agyarko’s lead did not necessarily make the contest settled, pointing to the combined 48.19 per cent support recorded by the other three candidates.
It said the figures indicated the potential for a coalition among the candidates, particularly if Mr Afoko’s supporters were to negotiate as a bloc.
Call for unity
Beyond the individual candidates, the survey identified party unity as a major concern among delegates ahead of the contest.
It said delegates appeared to be seeking a leadership arrangement capable of helping the NPP recover from the divisions and setbacks following the 2024 general election.
According to the report, issues such as reconciliation, grassroots mobilisation and sustainable party financing were likely to influence the chairmanship contest, rather than name recognition alone.
It argued that candidates able to present a credible plan to reconcile the various factions within the party, reactivate the grassroots and strengthen fundraising without dependence on state power could gain an advantage as the NPP prepares for the 2028 general election.
The survey therefore presents the chairmanship contest not only as a battle for the leadership of the party, but also as an early test of the NPP’s ability to rebuild its organisational structures and political cohesion ahead of 2028.
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