Former Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye, has appealed to the presidential hopefuls of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to uphold integrity and decency in the party’s forthcoming flagbearer race, stressing the need to protect its long-standing principles and legacy.

He made the call during the signing of a Peace Pact by the five NPP aspirants on Thursday, January 22, 2026, in Accra. Prof Oquaye underscored the importance of unity, fairness and adherence to the party’s core values as the contest draws closer.

He urged the contenders to act in a manner that reflects honour and respect for the party and its history, noting that such conduct would safeguard the ideals upon which the NPP was founded.

Prof Oquaye explained that the peace pact was necessary in light of previous internal challenges, where alleged bias, unfair conduct and excessive factionalism had weakened party cohesion.

The NPP presidential primary, slated for January 31, 2026, will feature a highly competitive field comprising former Assin Central MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong; former Minister of Food and Agriculture and Abetifi MP, Dr Bryan Acheampong; former Vice-President and 2024 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; former Education Minister and Bosomtwe MP, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum; and former NPP General Secretary, Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.

The peace pact binds all five aspirants to commit to party unity, respect the electoral process and accept the final results, while also ensuring that their supporters conduct themselves peacefully and avoid actions that could undermine the stability of the party.