Addai-Nimoh withdraws from NPP presidential race over bias, monetization

Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant, Ing. Francis Addai-Nimoh, has announced his decision to withdraw from the party’s upcoming presidential primary scheduled for January 31, 2026.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, the former Mampong Member of Parliament explained that the decision followed extensive consultations with his team and personal reflections on the current state of the party.

He highlighted four key reasons for pulling out, including what he described as “inappropriate political timing” for holding the primaries and the “top-down approach” adopted in managing internal contests. According to him, such practices undermine fairness and inclusiveness within the party.

“The Top-Down approach to internal Party contests, which has been severely criticized by many party stalwarts, including myself, \[is] politically imprudent,” he stated.

Addai-Nimoh also accused party executives of showing bias toward a particular aspirant, a development he said compromises transparency and unity within the NPP. He further criticized what he termed the “unreasonable and unhealthy monetization” of the party’s internal politics, pointing specifically to the GHS 4.6 million filing fee being demanded from aspirants.

“These factors, I believe, undermine the foundations of our internal democratic culture and place unethical emphasis on money rather than competence and winnability,” he stressed.

Despite stepping down, Addai-Nimoh wished all aspirants well in their campaigns and reaffirmed his loyalty to the party and Ghana.

“Long live the NPP and long live our homeland, Ghana,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, officially filed his nomination to contest the party’s presidential primaries at the party headquarters in Accra.

The submission marks the formal launch of his campaign to lead the NPP into the next general elections.

In an interview, Mr. Agyepong urged fellow aspirants to elevate the political discourse and focus on substantive national issues rather than engaging in personal attacks.

Drawing on his extensive public service experience, including his tenure as Press Secretary to former President John Agyekum Kufuor, he stressed that integrity and principled leadership should define the campaign.

“My campaign is not about personalities; it is about addressing the real issues affecting Ghanaians,” he stated, emphasizing the need for solutions-driven politics that benefit citizens.

He challenged other aspirants to take part in public debates, arguing that delegates and the broader electorate deserve to hear clear policy positions from all candidates. He expressed concern over what he described as a “poisoned political atmosphere” and called for a return to democratic ideals that could inspire greater youth engagement in governance and decision-making.