Kwabena Agyepong pledges discipline, meritocracy and youth empowerment ahead of NPP primaries
Kwabena Agyei Agyepong has unveiled an ambitious six-point campaign covenant centred on integrity, unity and service as he intensifies his bid to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into the 2026 presidential race, just days ahead of the party’s January 31 primaries.
Delivering his Leadership with Integrity, Uniting the NPP Policy Day Address on Tuesday, January 20, the former General Secretary of the NPP said Ghana had fallen far short of the vision of its founders and required a decisive change in leadership direction to restore hope, opportunity and national discipline.
Reflecting on the country’s post-independence journey, Mr Agyepong said nearly seven decades on, Ghanaians were still grappling with unemployment, poverty and failing systems. “We see the numbers. But even more importantly, we feel the dismal reality,” he said, pointing to “the frustration of the youth and the unemployed graduates that we have with no jobs”.
He argued that democracy had not delivered its expected dividends, citing what he described as “poor sanitation, high unemployment, galamsey, a chaotic explosion of slum settlements, perilous health care and a public service struggling under the weight of unbridled politicization”.
“This certainly is not our destiny. This was not our dream,” he declared, adding: “This is not the Ghana our matters died for.”
Positioning his candidacy as a break from what he called a cycle of decline, Mr Agyepong said his life of sacrifice and service had prepared him for national leadership. “Leadership is not about entitlement. It’s about understanding people. It’s about loving people. It’s about helping people,” he said.
At the heart of his campaign is what he described as a “solemn covenant” for national renewal, built around six policy pillars. The first focuses on land reform, youth empowerment and modernised agriculture. “My presidency will launch a comprehensive land reform and transparent compensation framework,” he promised, saying the reforms would cut bureaucratic red tape, unlock capital and end protracted land disputes.
He said this would be linked to youth-led environmental stewardship to reclaim degraded lands and transition Ghana from subsistence farming to “a modern, climate, smart agriculture sector”. “We will utilize every acre of this country,” he said.
The second pillar centres on urban regeneration, rural renewal and environmental protection, anchored on strict enforcement of planning and building laws. Mr Agyepong pledged “a zero tolerance policy for indiscipline, corruption and the blatant flouting of our planning regime”, adding: “The era of lawlessness will be over.”
On fiscal discipline and value for money, the NPP aspirant vowed to end waste in public spending through “ruthless value for money audits” and a commitment to complete existing projects before starting new ones. “There shall be no more abandoned hospitals, no more uncompleted roads,” he said.
Restoring meritocracy in the public service forms the fourth pillar of his agenda. Mr Agyepong said promotions would be based on competence rather than political connections. “Merit will rule again. Promotions will come from hard work, not connection,” he assured, promising to end political patronage and rebuild strong state institutions.
He also proposed downsizing government to 19 cabinet ministers, supported by an equal number of deputies, and signalled judicial reforms, including capping Supreme Court judges at 11 and abolishing the mandatory retirement age of 70 to safeguard judicial independence.
The fifth pillar targets the informal sector, which he described as “the very soul of our economy”. He pledged a simplified national trade licence regime to bring traders and artisans into the formal economy without harassment. “We will not punish you with taxes. We will empower you with licenses, protect you with the law and support you with credit,” he said.
His final pillar focuses on empowering creative arts and reviving sports, with a promise to protect intellectual property rights and reignite grassroots sports development. “Our soul as a nation finds expression in our arts and sports,” he said, adding that Ghana would prioritise football, athletics and boxing while strengthening school and community sports systems.
Calling on NPP delegates to rally behind his vision, Mr Agyepong said the party was “not in a good place” and needed to reunite around values rather than personalities. “Do not choose just a candidate. Choose values over vanity. Choose principles over patronage. Choose character over chicanery,” he urged.
The NPP presidential primaries are scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, with Mr Agyepong contesting against Ken Ohene Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum.
