New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman aspirant Boakye Kyeremanteng Agyarko has dismissed suggestions that his bid for the party’s chairmanship is linked to any long-term presidential ambition.

Agyarko, who is campaigning to become the party’s National Chairman, said his immediate focus is to reorganise the NPP and help former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia win the 2028 presidential election.

The NPP is scheduled to hold its National Officers’ Election on October 3, 2026, in Kumasi, with Mr Agyarko among four candidates contesting the National Chairman position.

Speaking to party supporters, the 70-year-old politician said he had little reason to pursue a political ambition that extends beyond 2028.

“If I cause Dr. Bawumia to lose 2028 and in the unlikely event that NDC loses 2032, the next is not 2036, it’s 2037. Add that to my age and ask yourself whether it makes sense for me to come and contest in that 2037 to become president of Ghana,” he said.

He questioned what personal benefit he would derive from undermining Dr Bawumia’s presidential bid.

“If I let Dr. Bawumia miss this golden chance, do I automatically become president? So what is my game? What do I get out of it? I have been in opposition for a long time,” he said.

“I need power and I need it now.”

Agyarko said his principal objective as National Chairman would be to strengthen the NPP’s structures and position the party to win the 2028 elections.

“2028 for me is the watermark. We have to win or we have to win,” he said.

He urged delegates to give him the mandate at the October 3 election to reorganise the party and build a stronger organisation capable of supporting Dr Bawumia’s campaign.

“Give me that task of reorganising this party, making it strong so that Dr Bawumia can jump on in all confidence and win 2028 convincingly,” he said.

Agyarko has previously said his chairmanship bid is focused on rebuilding and rebranding the NPP, with victory in the 2028 elections as the central objective.

He also used biblical references to illustrate his argument that age does not necessarily prevent a person from providing leadership. He cited Abraham, whom he said was 75 when he was called, and Moses, whom he described as 80 when he led the Israelites out of Egypt.

He subsequently invoked religious references while criticising the current NDC administration, saying he wanted to replace a phrase referring to “Azarban” with “NDC”.

“May God spare us the rule of NDC because it is hellfire and we are all feeling it,” he said.

He repeated the statement, drawing a connection between political leadership, governance and the wellbeing of citizens.

Agyarko’s comments come ahead of the NPP’s October 3 national executive elections, where four candidates—John Boadu, Sammy Crabbe, Paul Afoko and Boakye Agyarko—are contesting the National Chairman position.

Agyarko is fourth on the ballot paper.