A new independent poll has revealed a major shift in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer contest, with Dr. Bryan Acheampong surging into the lead ahead of the party’s 2026 presidential primary slated for Saturday, January 31.

According to the latest survey conducted by the Future Governance Analytics Project (FGAP), Dr. Acheampong now commands 42 per cent support among party delegates, overtaking former frontrunner Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and outspoken MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.

The poll, conducted between December 2025 and January 2026, sampled 20,000 delegates drawn proportionally from all 16 regions, out of an estimated national delegate population of 210,000.

It carries a margin of error of ±2 per cent at a 95 per cent confidence level.

The results show a dramatic rise in support for Dr. Acheampong over the past year.

From 12.7 per cent in April 2025, his support jumped to 28.1 per cent by June 2025 and has now climbed to 42 per cent in January 2026 — a net gain of 29.3 percentage points.

In contrast, Dr. Bawumia’s support has declined from 43.9 per cent in April 2025 to 32 per cent in the latest poll, while Kennedy Agyapong has fallen from 39.2 per cent to 25 per cent over the same period.

Other aspirants, including Kwabena Agyapong and Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, recorded marginal gains but remain below the three per cent mark.

The FGAP findings are consistent with results from other independent surveys.

Global InfoAnalytics, in a January 2026 poll, reported that Dr. Acheampong recorded the strongest gains in the final stages of delegate engagement, drawing significant support from Kennedy Agyapong.

Similarly, a survey by OBM Consultancy in collaboration with the Ghanaian Chronicle found Acheampong’s delegate support surging by 35 per cent.

An Academics and Professionals Poll conducted in October 2025 also showed him making steady nationwide gains while support for other contenders plateaued.

Analysts attribute Dr. Acheampong’s rise to a combination of strategic messaging, grassroots mobilisation, and growing endorsements from sitting Members of Parliament and party heavyweights.

A former Minister for Food and Agriculture and current Member of Parliament for Abetifi, he is seen by many delegates as a unifying figure with both governance experience and private sector insight.

His campaign message, centred on party discipline, unity, and renewal, is said to be resonating strongly with delegates seeking a generational shift within the party.

Observers also point to a “momentum effect,” with consistent gains across multiple polls creating a perception of inevitability around his candidacy.

For Dr. Bawumia, the poll suggests a need to re-energise his campaign and reconnect with delegates who appear to be drifting away after his early dominance.

Kennedy Agyapong, while retaining a solid grassroots base, faces the challenge of consolidating his remaining support in the face of Acheampong’s structured and disciplined campaign.

With the primaries drawing closer, the poll reshapes the dynamics of the NPP race, turning what was once a two-horse contest into one led by a clear frontrunner.

Political watchers say the key question now is whether Dr. Acheampong can sustain his momentum and secure an outright victory, or whether the race will head into a run-off as rivals adjust their strategies.