One Among Five: NPP's Exclusive Coverage of Bawumia Sparks Fury

Accra, Ghana — The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is engulfed in a storm of internal criticism and accusations of blatant favoritism after it transformed its national headquarters into a lavishly decorated stage exclusively for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's nomination filing, while four other prominent candidates submitted their forms with minimal fanfare.

On Wednesday, the party's official premises underwent a dramatic metamorphosis for Dr. Bawumia's event. A massive, professional stage was erected, lined with party colours. A lush green carpet was rolled out, leading from the entrance to the submission point. The entire facade of the party office was adorned with elaborate decorations, banners, and branded materials, creating a scene reminiscent of a national victory rally.

This extravagant production, live-streamed on the party's official Facebook page under the title "Submission and Filing of Nomination Forms" with the hashtags #Bawumia2028, stood in stark contrast to the subdued settings for the other aspirants. The candidates who filed their nominations include:

· Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Former Vice President of the Republic
· Hon. Bryan Acheampong, Member of Parliament for Abetifi 
· Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe and Former Minister for Education
· Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Former Member of Parliament for Assin Central
· Hon. Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, former General Secretary of the NPP

The disparity has ignited fury among rival camps and neutral observers, who accuse the party leadership of abandoning its mandated neutrality to anoint a preferred candidate.

"This is no longer a subtle endorsement; it's a full-blown coronation using the party's resources," fumed a source close to one of the other campaigns. "How can you explain a huge stage, a green carpet, and the entire office decked out for one candidate, while the other four were treated like an afterthought? The party headquarters belongs to all of us, not to one candidate."

When pressed for comment, a party official defended that the party remains neutral and that all five candidates will compete on a level playing field.

However, political analysts see the event as a definitive statement. "The message was unmistakable," said Dr. Evelyn Arthur, a political sociologist. "The party establishment is not just backing Bawumia; they are mobilizing the entire institutional machinery for him. This creates a profound imbalance and could severely damage the credibility of the internal electoral process before it even starts."

The incident threatens to deepen factional fractures within the NPP as it seeks to unite after a painful electoral defeat and rebuild for the 2028 general election.