Senior Lecturer at Kumasi Technical University Declares Bid for NPP Flagbearership Ahead of 2028 Elections
In a bold move that has stirred political interest within the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Edmund Oppong-Peprah, a Senior Lecturer at Kumasi Technical University, has officially announced his intention to contest for the party’s presidential slot in the lead-up to the 2028 general elections.
Dr. Oppong-Peprah’s declaration places him among an expanding list of notable figures within the NPP who are eyeing the party’s leadership post-2024. Others who have signaled similar ambitions include the party’s 2024 flagbearer and current Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong; Abetifi MP and Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong; Bosomtwe MP and Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum; and former General Secretary of the NPP, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.
A longstanding and dedicated member of the party, Dr. Oppong-Peprah has been an active force within the Ashanti Region for more than a decade. He has contested the party’s parliamentary primaries in the Asante Akyem South constituency on three occasions and has played a pivotal role in regional campaign coordination, logistics, and grassroots mobilization.
He also served for eight years as the Chief Patron of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) at Kumasi Technical University, mentoring hundreds of young party faithful and contributing to the political grooming of the party’s youth wing on campus.
Academically, Dr. Oppong-Peprah holds a PhD in Engineering Management, specialising in infrastructure finance. At Kumasi Technical University, he lectures in entrepreneurship and finance, contributing significantly to the training of Ghana’s next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Outside the classroom and the political arena, he is associated with two ambitious development projects currently under review: the “Entrepreneurship Village” and a proposed university city in the Ashanti Region. Both initiatives aim to stimulate economic growth, foster innovation, and improve access to quality higher education and infrastructure across the region.
Announcing his presidential ambition, Dr. Oppong-Peprah unveiled a comprehensive vision he describes as a “pragmatic transformation agenda” for Ghana, anchored on seven key pillars:
- Promotion of modern agriculture and mechanised farming
- Investment in renewable and decentralised energy systems
- Full-scale industrial processing of Ghana’s raw materials
- A nationwide malaria elimination programme
- Reform of the Free Senior High School policy to ensure its sustainability
- Enhanced incentives for teachers and healthcare professionals in rural communities
- Targeted infrastructure development in historically neglected regions
Dr. Oppong-Peprah stressed that his vision is grounded in practicality, data-driven planning, and a desire to bridge the developmental divide between urban and rural Ghana.
The NPP, preparing for life after the 2024 elections, has seen heightened interest in its next leadership direction. The party officially opened nominations for the 2026 flagbearer race on July 29, 2025, with the window set to close on August 28.
Vetting of all aspirants will be conducted from September 15 to 22, after which the Vetting Committee will submit its recommendations to the National Council by September 29. Petitions can be filed between September 30 and October 3, with a joint National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council meeting set for October 7 to finalise approvals.
The list of qualified aspirants is expected to be published on October 8, followed by balloting for positions on October 10. The official notice of poll will be issued on October 17.
The NPP’s national flagbearer election is scheduled for January 31, 2026. In the event that no candidate receives the required votes to win outright, a runoff election will be held on February 14, 2026.
As Dr. Edmund Oppong-Peprah throws his hat into the ring, political watchers will be keenly observing how his entry will impact the dynamics of the race, particularly with his blend of academic distinction, grassroots experience, and bold developmental vision.
