Allow the rank and file to choose their own leader – Dr KK Sarpong to outgoing presidents

Former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Dr KK Sarpong, has urged outgoing presidents to allow the rank and file of their political parties to freely choose their next leaders, warning against the use of state or party machinery to impose preferred candidates.

Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV on January 20, 2026, Dr Sarpong said while a sitting president may have personal preferences, such choices may not necessarily reflect the will of party members.

“That’s why I keep preaching that when a president is leaving, he should allow the rank and file to choose their own leader. You may have your preference, but it may not necessarily be the one that the people want,” he said.

Dr Sarpong noted that although former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo did not publicly endorse his then Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearership race, perceptions at the time suggested otherwise.

“Actions sometimes speak louder than words. Maybe it was implied. Maybe people thought that because he was the vice president,” he stated, adding that such perceptions could be dangerous if left unaddressed.

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He cautioned that when the entire party or government machinery appears to support one candidate, it creates the impression that the head of government has endorsed that individual, which could have serious repercussions for internal party democracy.

“If the whole party machinery, if the whole government machinery goes behind one candidate, what do you think will be the repercussions? It means the head of government endorses it. We need to be careful,” Dr Sarpong cautioned.

Responding to suggestions that former President Akufo-Addo’s preferred candidate was former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, Dr Sarpong acknowledged that while the former president has recently denied endorsing any candidate, perceptions at the time indicated otherwise.

“My perception at the time was that he did it, and that perception was shared by many. And perceptions can be dangerous,” he said, describing such actions as wrong.

Dr Sarpong added that he openly addressed the issue in his memoir, stressing that the widespread belief within the party at the time was that the presidency had taken a position in the race.

“I say it clearly in my memoir. I say it without mincing words, because that was what we all perceived to be the position,” he indicated.

Watch the video below:

Perceptions can be dangerous. If a president is exiting, they should not endorse a candidate but allow the rank and file to choose their own leader

— Dr. K.K. Sarpong, former GNPC Chief Executive, on the NPP’s 2024 Election defeat#FaceToFace #ChannelOneNews #ChannelOneTV pic.twitter.com/JkiuXfL4Ce

— ChannelOne TV (@Channel1TVGHA) January 20, 2026