Former Member of Parliament for Mampong and two-time presidential aspirant, Ing. Francis Addai-Nimoh, has officially announced his decision not to contest the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) upcoming presidential primary scheduled for January 31, 2026.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Addai-Nimoh said his decision followed “broad consultations, advice from my team members and careful reflections on the current circumstances of the Party.”
He outlined four key reasons for his withdrawal’’ The “inappropriate political timing” of holding the primary in January 2026. The NPP’s “top-down approach” to internal party contests, which he described as politically imprudent. A “seeming inclination and bias” of party executives toward a particular candidate. The “unreasonable and unhealthy monetization” of internal party politics, citing the GHS 4.6 million filing fee demanded from each aspirant’’.
“These factors, I believe, undermine the foundations of our internal democratic culture and place unethical emphasis on money rather than competence and winnability,” he stated.
Despite his withdrawal, Addai-Nimoh extended well-wishes to all aspirants in the race, reaffirming his loyalty to the party and to Ghana.
“Long live the NPP and long live our homeland, Ghana,” he concluded.
Addai-Nimoh’s exit marks another critical moment in the NPP’s preparations for the 2026 presidential race, which is expected to determine the party’s successor to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo after his two terms in office.
