Accra, Ghana – The Member of Parliament for Assin Central and flagbearer aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, gracefully accepted his defeat to Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia at the Accra Sports Stadium, where Dr Bawumia was officially declared the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) new leader and flagbearer for the 2024 elections.

In his concession speech, Mr Agyapong pledged his full support to Dr Bawumia and the entire NPP in their quest to “break the eight-year cycle.” His concession was marked by the transparent and peaceful nature of the election.

“I believe the party has been fair and transparent, and the only thing I have always been preaching is that this election is fair, and my grassroots people have spoken. I pledge my support, and we are going to work tirelessly to break the eight,” Mr Agyapong stated, receiving loud cheers from the gathering.

The certified election results, announced by a Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, Siriboe Quaicoe, revealed that Dr Bawumia secured 118,210 votes, representing 61.43%, while Mr Agyapong garnered 71,996 votes, representing 37.41%.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto, who placed a distant third, polled 1,459 votes, representing 0.76%, while Addai-Nimoh received 731 votes, accounting for 0.41%.

A total of 192,446 delegates participated in Saturday's presidential primary, resulting in a turnout of 94.63%. Although Dr. Bawumia's victory was widely anticipated, he fell short of the 80% target set by members of his campaign team.

Dr Bawumia's historic win makes him the first non-Akan leader to lead the NPP into a general election after serving as President Akufo-Addo's running mate since 2008.

The 2024 election is expected to be highly competitive, with both Dr Bawumia and former President Mahama as formidable candidates, each with their strengths and weaknesses.

The election's outcome will depend on various factors, including the state of the economy, the candidates' campaign messages, and voter turnout, setting the stage for an engaging political battle.