A flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has declared that he would never concede defeat in a presidential election unless the Electoral Commission (EC) officially announces the results.

Addressing party delegates during his campaign tour of the Savannah Region, Mr Agyapong said he would stand firm in defending the will of the people, emphasising that any concession before an official declaration would be premature and irresponsible.

“Until the last constituency is counted, if I am a Presidential candidate, I will never accept defeat. I will never accept defeat until the Electoral Commission comes out to declare. I will never accept defeat,” he stated firmly, drawing cheers from his supporters.

Mr Agyapong, who has styled himself as a straight-talking, no-nonsense candidate, urged NPP delegates to choose “bold men” to lead the party into the 2026 general election. According to him, the NPP needs fearless leadership that can stand its ground against the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“We need bold men,” he said. “The party needs people who can match the NDC in every respect and defend the interests of our supporters.”

He criticised some of his opponents for focusing their campaigns on personal attacks rather than on substantive policies, particularly job creation, which he said should be the central issue in the upcoming election.

“The delegates must reject any candidate who does not talk about jobs but spends time attacking my personality and saying I am not presidential,” he said.

Mr Agyapong also defended his contributions to the NPP, claiming that few, if any, had sacrificed as much as he had for the party. “No one has contributed more to the party in terms of finances and body and soul,” he stated.

The Assin Central Member of Parliament, who has long been known for his outspoken views, has been touring the regions to rally support ahead of the NPP’s flagbearer elections. His campaign has focused heavily on economic empowerment, job creation, and what he describes as “restoring honesty and discipline” within the party.

The NPP recently conducted a balloting exercise to determine the order in which aspirants will appear on the ballot paper for the upcoming presidential primary, scheduled for January 31, 2026. Mr Agyapong drew the first slot, followed by Dr Bryan Acheampong, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.

According to the Presidential Elections Committee, the exercise was held in collaboration with the Electoral Commission to ensure transparency and fairness. The committee’s secretary, William Yamoah, reiterated the party’s commitment to democratic principles.

“The New Patriotic Party remains steadfast in its resolve to conduct a transparent, credible and peaceful presidential primary as we prepare to elect a flagbearer for the 2026 general elections,” Mr Yamoah said.

As the race intensifies, Mr Agyapong’s remarks are expected to ignite further debate within the NPP as it may be interpreted as a swipe at Dr. Bawumia, who conceded defeat to his main opponent, John Dramani Mahama, in Ghana’s 2024 Presidential Election.