A new scientific research study conducted by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) has revealed overwhelming support among New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates for former Vice President and the party’s 2024 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, ahead of the party’s presidential primaries scheduled for January 31, 2026.
According to the findings, 67.9% of NPP delegates who will be voting in the primaries prefer Dr. Bawumia to lead the party into the December 2028 general elections, placing him far ahead of all other potential contenders within the governing party.
The research was based on a scientifically selected sample of 5,036 NPP delegates nationwide.
Of this number, 3,363 respondents, representing 66.8%, were male, while 1,673 respondents, or 33.2%, were female.
In addition to delegates, the study also surveyed a much larger non-delegate sample of 13,194 NPP supporters.
Among the non-delegates, 6,384 respondents, representing 48.4%, were male, while 6,810 respondents, or 51.6%, were female.
The respondents cut across all age groups, including those aged 18–25, 26–35, 36–45, 46–55, and those aged 56 years and above.
Their educational backgrounds ranged from no formal education through basic and secondary levels to tertiary education.
In terms of residence, respondents were drawn from urban, peri-urban, and rural communities across the country.
On religious affiliation, the study found that among NPP delegates, 3,846 respondents, representing 76.4%, were Christians, while 1,020 respondents, or 20.3%, were Muslims.
A total of 85 delegates, representing 1.7%, identified as adherents of traditional religion, with another 85 delegates, also 1.7%, indicating that they were non-religious.
Among the non-delegate respondents, 9,585 people, representing 72.6%, were Christians, while 3,032 respondents, or 23%, were Muslims.
In addition, 275 respondents, representing 2.1%, practised traditional religion, while 299 respondents, or 2.3%, identified as non-religious.
As part of the study, respondents were asked a series of questions on leadership preference and the future direction of the NPP.
One of the key questions posed was which among Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Kennedy Agyapong, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, and Kwabena Agyapong possessed the character and leadership required to strengthen and rebuild the NPP to be competitive in future general elections.
The findings showed what the researchers described as a clear and decisive pattern.
Among NPP delegates, Dr. Bawumia commanded overwhelming support, with 69.8% identifying him as the personality best suited to lead the rebuilding and strengthening of the party.
The researchers noted that this level of endorsement from delegates, who form the core of the party’s internal electoral machinery, reflects a high degree of confidence in Dr. Bawumia’s leadership capacity, political experience, and perceived ability to unify different factions within the party.
Among non-delegates, Dr. Bawumia also emerged as the leading figure, though with a lower but still significant 52.9% support. According to the researchers, the gap between delegates and non-delegates suggests that while Dr. Bawumia’s appeal is broad and nationally significant, delegates view him even more favourably, likely due to his long-standing involvement in party structures and his high visibility in government.
The research further revealed that Kennedy Agyapong ranked second in this category, receiving 22.5% support among delegates and a higher 31.2% among non-delegates.
The researchers observed that his stronger appeal among non-delegates highlights his reputation for outspoken advocacy, anti-corruption rhetoric, and grassroots mobilisation.
His populist communication style, they noted, appears to resonate more strongly with the broader party base than with the delegate class.
Support for Dr. Bryan Acheampong remained relatively modest, with six per cent among delegates and eight per cent among non-delegates.
This, according to the study, indicates recognition of his leadership potential, but not at a level comparable to the two leading figures.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum and Kwabena Agyapong attracted minimal support, suggesting that their leadership appeal is limited or overshadowed by more dominant personalities.
The “Other” category accounted for 0.6% of delegates and 3.9% per cent alternative options, particularly among non-delegates.
The researchers concluded that the overwhelming support for Dr. Bawumia among delegates, combined with his strong backing among non-delegates, reinforces his strategic positioning as a unifying figure capable of restoring momentum within the NPP. However, they cautioned that the substantial support for Kennedy Agyapong among non-delegates signals a strong populist undercurrent that the party would need to manage carefully.
Another key question asked by the researchers focused directly on leadership into the next elections: which of the same potential leaders respondents believed was best suited to lead the NPP into the next general elections.
Here again, the results showed a clear preference for Dr. Bawumia among both delegates and non-delegates. Among delegates, 67.9% identified Dr. Bawumia as the most qualified to lead the party, making him the overwhelming favourite within the party’s core decision-making group.
Kennedy Agyapong followed with 21.3% support among delegates, indicating a sizeable minority who value his direct style, perceived honesty, and grassroots appeal.
The remaining candidates recorded significantly lower figures among delegates.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong received 6.5%, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum 1.3%, Kwabena Agyapong 2.4%, while other potential leaders accounted for 0.6%.
Among non-delegates, the pattern was similar but less pronounced. Dr. Bawumia led with 50.7%, suggesting that while he remains the clear favourite, the broader party base presents a more competitive landscape.
Kennedy Agyapong secured 29.7% support among non-delegates, substantially higher than his delegate score, underscoring his stronger resonance at the grassroots level. Support for Dr. Bryan Acheampong stood at 8.7%, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum at three per cent, Kwabena Agyapong at 4.1%, and others at 3.8%.
Overall, the researchers observed that while Dr. Bawumia enjoys dominant support within party structures, Kennedy Agyapong’s influence is more pronounced among non-delegates, pointing to a more dynamic and competitive environment at the grassroots level.
Beyond national aggregates, the research also projected regional voting patterns ahead of the primaries. According to the findings, Dr. Bawumia is leading in all 16 regions of the country among delegates.
In the Ahafo Region, he leads with 52.4% among delegates and 36.2% among non-delegates.
In the Ashanti Region, he records 61.1% support among delegates and 46.4% among non-delegates.
In the Bono East Region, Dr. Bawumia leads with 65.1% among delegates and 53.5% among non-delegates, while in the Bono Region he records 65.2% among delegates and 33.6% among non-delegates.
In the Central Region, he leads among delegates with 49.2% but trails Kennedy Agyapong among non-delegates.
The data further shows Dr. Bawumia leading with 58.2% among delegates and 44.7% among non-delegates in the Eastern Region, and 68.4% among delegates and 44.7% among non-delegates in the Greater Accra Region.
In the North East Region, he commands an overwhelming 95.5% among delegates and 80.9% among non-delegates.
In the Northern Region, he records 85.1% among delegates and 67.6% among non-delegates.
In the Oti Region, Dr. Bawumia leads among delegates with 64.2% but again trails Kennedy Agyapong among non-delegates. In the Savannah Region, he posts 92.6% among delegates and 80.9 per cent among non-delegates.
In the Upper East Region, his support stands at 62.4% among delegates and 49.6% among non-delegates, while in the Upper West Region he records 89.1% among delegates and 82% among non-delegates.
The study further shows Dr. Bawumia leading in the Volta Region with 72% among delegates and 54.6% among non-delegates, and in the Western North Region with 77.8% among delegates and 67.4% among non-delegates.
The researchers concluded that the findings point to strong internal consensus around Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the preferred leader of the NPP going forward, while also revealing underlying variations in grassroots preferences that the party will need to manage carefully to maintain unity and electoral competitiveness ahead of the next election cycle.
