The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has defended its decision to elect a presidential candidate more than two years ahead of the 2028 general elections, arguing that the country urgently needs a strong opposition leader to check the actions of the Mahama-led administration.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, 18th June, the Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Haruna Mohammed, said the party’s decision to hold its flagbearer election on 31st January 2026 was based on broad internal consultations and the recommendation of its constitutional amendment committee.

“There was a very strong report from the constitutional amendment committee,” Mr Mohammed explained. “It said that based on the overwhelming proposal from party members and extensive stakeholder engagement, they held that position.”

He maintained that the current political climate demands a clear and visible opposition leader who can provide strong leadership, speak for the people, and counter what he described as the excesses of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

“Looking at the environment, the conditions available to us clearly indicate that we need to have an opposition leader at this point in time to be able to hold the country to a better place,” he said.

Mr Mohammed accused the government of engaging in “unlawful” practices and reneging on key obligations, particularly the failure to implement agreed conditions of service for nurses.

“The government is deciding that they want to do things that are very unlawful, and we think that we need to check them,” he stated. “That’s why nurses are very uncomfortable — even when the documentation of their conditions of service has been completed, the government has abandoned it.”

He also criticised what he termed a growing trend of public “persecution” in the media rather than legal prosecution through the courts.

“Ghanaians are also seeing that instead of us going to court to prosecute, we are persecuting in the media, and I think that it is not good for us,” he said.

The Deputy General Secretary added that electing a flagbearer early would give the NPP ample time to articulate its vision, scrutinise government policies, and present itself as a credible alternative to the current administration.