Bawumia Clear Frontrunner in NPP Flagbearer Race – KAS Survey
Report By Iddrisu Kumbundoo
A new survey conducted by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) has identified former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the clear frontrunner ahead of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential primaries scheduled for January 2026.
The survey, released on December 16, 2025, gathered responses from more than 18,000 respondents nationwide, including over 5,000 NPP delegates and more than 13,000 non-delegate citizens. It aimed to assess leadership expectations and preferences ahead of the party’s internal elections.
According to the findings, competence emerged as the most important quality respondents want to see in the next NPP flagbearer, accounting for 24.9 per cent of responses. This was followed by experience (20.3%), vision (16.9%), accessibility at the grassroots level (14.1%), and charisma (8.5%).
Identity-related factors such as age, gender, religion, or ethnicity collectively accounted for less than one per cent.
When asked which personalities best possess the required leadership qualities, 69.7 per cent of delegates identified Dr. Bawumia, compared to 22.5 per cent who preferred former lawmaker, Kennedy Agyapong.
Among non-delegates, Dr. Bawumia also led with 52.9 per cent, while Mr. Agyapong polled 31.2 per cent. On the question of who is best suited to become the NPP flagbearer, Dr. Bawumia again dominated.
He secured 67.8 per cent support among delegates, ahead of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong with 21.3 per cent and Dr. Bryan Acheampong with 6.6 per cent.
Among non-delegates, Dr. Bawumia polled 50.6 per cent, while Mr. Agyapong recorded 29.8 per cent.KAS noted that the delegates’ preference gives Dr. Bawumia a commanding lead of approximately three to one, positioning him as the overwhelming favourite should the primaries be held today.
The survey also revealed high enthusiasm among party delegates, with 84.5 per cent expressing strong interest in the primaries. Additionally, 91.6 per cent of delegates indicated they are likely or very likely to vote.
In contrast, only 37 per cent of non-delegate citizens said they are very interested in the internal contest.The respondents represented a broad cross-section of Ghanaian society, covering all age groups, urban and rural areas, educational backgrounds, religious affiliations, and ethnic groups, ensuring national representativeness.
In a statement, KAS indicated that the survey forms part of its commitment to promoting democratic governance and providing evidence-based insights to strengthen Ghana’s political discourse.
