Former Member of Parliament for Anyaa Sowutuom, Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi, has urged delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to prioritise electability and broad national appeal as the party prepares to choose a flagbearer for the 2028 general elections.

Speaking on JoyNews Desk on January 27, Dr Adomako Kissi said the most critical consideration for delegates should be identifying a candidate capable of effectively matching and defeating the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the polls.

“In all of this, it is very important that the delegates be mindful of the fact that whoever our candidate becomes will be matching an outsider,” he said.

He cautioned against treating the flagbearer contest as a trial run, stressing that serious contenders enter such races with the clear intention of winning.

“The spokesperson for New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful Dr Bryan Acheampong made it clear that he’s not into testing waters, and to borrow from his own words, Dr Bernard Chamuna is into winning the race,” Dr Adomako Kissi stated.

According to the former legislator, Ghana’s political history shows that candidates do not always need multiple attempts to succeed, noting that some leaders have secured victory at their first attempt.

“In many instances, you keep going until you win, but some have come once and won,” he said.

Dr Adomako Kissi also urged delegates to take into account broader electoral dynamics, including regional balance, as part of a realistic strategy to return the party to power in 2028.

“To borrow from the words of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, should a northerner come after a northerner, it’s going to be difficult,” he said, referencing concerns about the possible impact of back-to-back candidates from the same region following former President John Dramani Mahama.

He was quick to stress that such considerations should not be misconstrued as tribalism, but rather understood as practical political realities.

“This is not being tribalistic; it is simply the reality of politics,” he added.

Dr Adomako Kissi further encouraged delegates to assess which aspirant carries less political baggage and has the resilience to withstand intense national scrutiny during a highly competitive campaign.

“As delegates, we need to be mindful of all these factors if we are serious about winning the 2028 election,” he said.

The NPP is expected to intensify internal consultations and campaign activities in the coming months as it prepares to elect a flagbearer to lead the party into the 2028 general elections.