Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum declares intent to contest NPP Flagbearer slot
The Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe and former Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has formally declared his intention to contest for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) presidential candidacy ahead of the 2028 general elections.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, June 18, Dr Adutwum announced his resolve to join the race once nominations are officially opened by the party.
“With humility, conviction, and a resolute heart, I, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, declare my intent to run for the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), should nominations be officially opened by the party,” he stated.
Dr Adutwum becomes one of the prominent figures to publicly declare interest in the party's top leadership role, joining an emerging list of contenders which includes Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, businessman and Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong, and Minister for Agriculture Bryan Acheampong, among others.
His announcement comes a day after the NPP formally scheduled January 31, 2026, as the date for its presidential primaries to elect a flagbearer for the 2028 elections. The decision was confirmed following a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Tuesday, June 17, and later endorsed by the National Council of the party.
Thr General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua explained that the decision to hold the primaries on that date does not require a constitutional amendment or approval by the national delegates conference, as it falls within the Council’s mandate.
“The date for our presidential primaries is set for January 31, 2026. That will be the date that we shall hold our presidential primaries,” Mr Kodua stated.
Dr Adutwum, a respected educationist and reform advocate, is widely credited for several policy shifts in the education sector during his tenure, including reforms to the Free SHS programme and the promotion of STEM education. He is seen by his supporters as a candidate who combines technocratic competence with political experience.
In his declaration, Dr Adutwum appealed to the grassroots of the NPP and urged unity as the party prepares for what could be a keenly contested leadership race.
Meanwhile, a nine-member committee chaired by former Bekwai MP Joseph Osei Owusu has been tasked to plan the NPP’s National Delegates Conference in July 2025. The conference will review and adopt constitutional amendments ahead of the primaries.
As the 2028 electoral cycle edges closer, the January primaries are expected to be a defining moment in determining the future leadership of the NPP and its chances of returning to power.
Profile
Born on April 9, 1964, at Jachie in the Ashanti Region, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum holds a PhD in Educational Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Southern California. He also holds master’s and postgraduate degrees in education and teaching from universities in California, and a bachelor’s degree in Land Economy from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He is married with four children and serves as a member of several international advisory boards in education.
