Ken’s camp unfazed via endorsement of Bawumia via 118 NPP parliamentary applicants – Kwasi Kwarteng – Life Pulse Daily

The NPP Endorsement Storm: Bawumia’s 118 Supporters and Kwarteng’s Defiant Rebuttal

**Introduction: A Strategic Endorsement Meets Defiant Response**

The political landscape within Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) is currently charged with the energy of the upcoming presidential primaries. A significant development occurred on January 8, 2026, when 118 former parliamentary applicants publicly declared their support for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the party’s incumbent flagbearer and 2024 presidential candidate. This endorsement, presented at a press conference, aimed to solidify Bawumia’s position as the clear frontrunner for the party’s nomination. However, the reaction from the camp of Kennedy Agyapong, another prominent NPP figure, was not one of concern, but rather one of dismissive analysis. Spokesperson Kwasi Kwarteng delivered a forceful statement suggesting this very endorsement exposed the perceived fragility of Bawumia’s campaign. This article delves into the significance of the 118 endorsements, Kwarteng’s critical assessment, and the broader implications for the NPP’s internal dynamics as the January 31, 2026, primaries approach.

**Key Points: The Endorsement and the Response**

1. **The Endorsement:** 118 former NPP parliamentary applicants publicly pledged their support for Dr. Bawumia during a press conference on January 8, 2026.
2. **The Context:** This declaration occurred ahead of the NPP’s presidential primaries scheduled for January 31, 2026.
3. **The Reaction:** Kwasi Kwarteng, spokesperson for Kennedy Agyapong’s campaign, stated that his camp remains “unfazed” by the endorsement.
4. **Kwarteng’s Critique:** Kwarteng argued that the endorsement actually demonstrates Bawumia’s campaign is “failing and susceptible,” not strong. He questioned the significance of the 118 applicants compared to the broader support Bawumia allegedly enjoyed just two years prior (e.g., 137 MPs, 6,000 appointees, 276 MMDCEs).
5. **Kwarteng’s Challenge:** He challenged the narrative that this endorsement signifies strong support, suggesting that if Bawumia’s campaign were truly robust, such a display would be unnecessary.

**Background: NPP Dynamics and the 2024 Flagbearer**

1. **The 2024 Flagbearer:** Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was the NPP’s flagbearer in the 2024 general election, running against the incumbent President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Despite his significant campaign resources and organizational strength, he lost the election.
2. **The 2026 Primaries:** Following the 2024 election loss, the NPP is holding its presidential primaries to select a candidate for the next general election. Dr. Bawumia, who remains the incumbent flagbearer, is seeking re-nomination.
3. **The Role of Parliamentary Applicants:** Parliamentary applicants are individuals who formally applied to contest the party’s parliamentary primaries in the 2024 elections. While many were selected, others were not. Their subsequent public endorsements carry political weight within the party, signaling support or dissent.
4. **Internal Party Tensions:** The NPP has experienced internal tensions since the 2024 election loss. Dissatisfaction with the party’s performance and leadership has surfaced, leading to the formation of various groups and the emergence of potential challengers to Dr. Bawumia’s leadership.
5. **The Significance of the 118:** The number 118 represents a notable bloc of former parliamentary applicants publicly breaking ranks with the official Bawumia campaign narrative. Their endorsement is framed as a significant show of support within the party’s grassroots.

**Analysis: Assessing the Impact of the Endorsement and the Response**

1. **Bawumia’s Campaign Narrative:** The endorsement from 118 former parliamentary applicants is a tangible demonstration of support *within* the party’s structure. It counters narratives of complete isolation or collapse within the NPP. However, Kwarteng’s response frames it as evidence of desperation or weakness, highlighting a perceived gap between past claimed support (MPs, appointees, MMDCEs) and current visible backing.
2. **Kwarteng’s Strategy:** Kwarteng’s statement serves multiple purposes for the Agyapong campaign:
* **Deflection:** It attempts to shift focus away from any potential vulnerabilities in the Agyapong campaign itself.
* **Undermining Bawumia:** By characterizing the endorsement as a sign of weakness, it seeks to erode confidence in Bawumia’s viability as the party’s standard-bearer.
* **Positioning Agyapong:** It implicitly positions Agyapong as the stronger, more viable alternative by contrast.
3. **The “Failing and Susceptible” Claim:** This is a direct attack on Bawumia’s leadership and campaign management. Kwarteng implies that if Bawumia truly commanded the overwhelming support he once did, such a specific endorsement drive would be unnecessary. He suggests the campaign is now struggling to rally visible support.
4. **The Gap Between Past and Present:** Kwarteng’s comparison to the support levels from two years prior is a key rhetorical device. He argues that the *scale* of visible support has diminished significantly, making the 118 applicants seem less impressive and more indicative of a campaign in decline rather than one gaining momentum.
5. **Party Dynamics:** This incident highlights the deep divisions and factionalism within the NPP. The public endorsement by a significant group of former applicants is a clear signal of dissent within the party ranks. It underscores the challenge Bawumia faces in unifying the party behind him, even as he seeks re-nomination. Conversely, it provides ammunition for potential challengers like Agyapong to question his leadership.
6. **The Primaries’ Stakes:** The January 31, 2026, primaries are crucial. Events like this endorsement and the subsequent rebuttal shape the narrative and influence delegate support. While endorsements from former applicants are important, they are just one factor among many (including party machinery, financial resources, and broader grassroots mobilization) in determining the outcome.

**Practical Advice: Navigating Party Endorsements**

1. **Focus on Unity:** Political parties benefit from projecting unity, especially during nomination processes. Candidates and their campaigns should prioritize efforts to bridge internal divides and present a cohesive front where possible.
2. **Contextualize Endorsements:** When evaluating the significance of endorsements, consider the source, the scale relative to the party’s total membership, and the broader political climate. A large number of endorsements from a specific group (like former parliamentary applicants) carries weight, but it must be viewed alongside other indicators of support.
3. **Address Dissatisfaction:** Parties experiencing internal dissent should proactively address the concerns of members who feel marginalized or dissatisfied. Ignoring such voices can lead to further fragmentation.
4. **Strategic Communication:** Campaigns must have robust communication strategies to counter narratives, as seen in Kwarteng’s immediate rebuttal. Effectively framing endorsements (or the lack thereof) is crucial for managing public perception.
5. **Build Broad Coalitions:** Securing endorsements from diverse segments of the party (MPs, appointees, local leaders, grassroots) is essential for demonstrating broad-based support and countering claims of weakness.

**FAQ: Addressing Key Questions**

* **Q: Does this endorsement mean Bawumia is losing support within the NPP?**
**A:** While it signals dissent and highlights existing divisions, it does not necessarily mean he is losing overall support. The NPP is a large party with diverse viewpoints. This is one indicator among many.
* **Q: How significant is the number 118?**
**A:** It represents a notable bloc of former parliamentary applicants publicly breaking with the official campaign narrative. Its significance depends on the total number of former applicants and the overall level of support Bawumia commands. It’s a visible sign of factionalism.
* **Q: Is Kwarteng’s claim that Bawumia’s campaign is “failing and susceptible” accurate?**
**A:** This is a political assertion made by the Agyapong campaign. While the endorsement highlights internal challenges for Bawumia, it is not an objective fact. The campaign’s overall strength and resources remain significant factors.
* **Q: What impact will this have on the January 31 primaries?**
**A:** It adds to the narrative of internal party dynamics and dissent. It may influence some delegates’ perceptions, but the outcome will depend on numerous factors beyond this single endorsement.
* **Q: Could this endorsement help Agyapong’s campaign?**
**A:** Agyapong’s campaign can potentially leverage this as evidence of Bawumia’s weakened position and internal party challenges, framing themselves as the candidate who can unify the party. However, securing their own broad support base remains the core challenge.

**Conclusion: A Sign of Division, Not Defeat**

The endorsement of 118 former NPP parliamentary applicants for Dr. Bawumia is a significant event within the charged atmosphere of the party’s 2026 presidential primaries. While presented as a show of strong support for the incumbent flagbearer, Kwasi Kwarteng’s immediate and forceful rebuttal frames it instead as a desperate act revealing the campaign’s perceived fragility. This incident underscores the deep divisions and factionalism currently plaguing the New Patriotic Party. It highlights the challenge Dr. Bawumia faces in unifying the party behind him as the primaries approach. While the endorsement provides tangible evidence of dissent, it does not definitively signal the end of his campaign. The January 31st primaries will ultimately determine whether this visible bloc of former applicants translates into broader support or remains a symbol of the internal fractures threatening the NPP’s cohesion.

**Sources**

* Life Pulse Daily. (2026, January 8). *118 former NPP parliamentary applicants claim support for Bawumia in presidential primaries*. [Original Article]
* Life Pulse Daily. (2026, January 8). *Kwasi Kwarteng: “How can this be a blow to our camp? The mentioned endorsement just demonstrates how failing and susceptible Dr Bawumia’s campaign has become”*. [Original Article]
* GhanaWeb. (2026, January 8). *118 NPP parliamentary applicants endorse Bawumia*. [Secondary Reporting]
* JoyNews. (2026, January 8). *Kwarteng’s Response to Bawumia Endorsement*. [Secondary Reporting]