A seemingly light-hearted exchange during the final funeral rites of the late Mamponghene and Krontihene of Asanteman, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, has unexpectedly thrown a spotlight on the intensifying internal contest for the New Patriotic Party (NPP)'s flagbearer slot.

The interaction, widely shared in a viral clip on X, featured former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, underscoring the brewing battle for the party's leadership.

In the viral footage from the Mampong gathering on Saturday, June 7, 2025, Dr. Bawumia is heard playfully remarking to Dr. Acheampong, “You want to worry me.”

The quip is widely interpreted as a subtle acknowledgement of the anticipated fierce competition for the NPP's presidential candidacy.

Dr. Bawumia led the NPP party into the 2024 presidential elections and lost by a significant margin to the NDC's John Dramani Mahama.

The economist is widely expected to seek re-election as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2028 general elections.

However, the path to re-nomination for Dr. Bawumia appears fraught with challenges, as former Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong also laces his boots.

Speaking to a gathering of party loyalists in Mampong, a strategic location within the Ashanti Region, which traditionally accounts for 18-20% of Ghana's total registered voters and is an NPP stronghold, Agyapong vehemently argued against rewarding past electoral "poor performance".

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"The NPP doesn’t give second chances to candidates who fail to deliver. We didn’t do it for Adu Boahen, and we shouldn’t do it now,” Agyapong declared, in a thinly veiled jab at Dr. Bawumia.

His reference to Professor Albert Adu Boahen is a direct historical precedent: Adu Boahen was the NPP's presidential candidate in the 1992 elections, which the party boycotted in protest of alleged irregularities.

The party subsequently opted for John Agyekum Kufuor as its candidate for the 1996 elections, not giving Adu Boahen a second shot, and Kufuor went on to win the presidency in 2000 and 2004.

Agyapong's argument, therefore, posits that the NPP's history proves 'performance is non-negotiable' in its flagbearer selection process.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, the incumbent MP for Abetifi, has also publicly indicated his interest in contesting the party’s flagbearership, further intensifying the expected race.

The interactions at the Mamponghene's funeral underscore the complex dynamics unfolding within the NPP as it grapples with its future leadership.

With the party aiming to regain power in 2028, the choice of flagbearer will be critical, necessitating a delicate balance between experience, loyalty, and perceived electability.