Four Ghanaian broadcasters have declared their intention to contest the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primaries ahead of the 2028 general election.
Former Joy News anchor Samuel Kojo Brace, political host Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah, former Oman FM presenter Stephen Fiifi Boafo and Kessben Media personality Ohene Amankwah-Gyan all announced their bids before the Tuesday, November 10 deadline for prospective parliamentary candidates.
Brace, also known as “Ahanta Pele”, confirmed his decision in a Facebook post on Monday, November 9, saying he had signed and submitted his declaration to contest the Ahanta West Constituency seat in the Western Region.
“A new vision. A bold step.”
“A greater future. Ahanta West, the journey begins!” the former Multimedia Group Limited assistant editor wrote alongside his campaign poster.
During his time at Joy News, Brace presented programmes including Top Story, The AM Show, JoyNews Desk and Joy News Prime. The Ahanta West seat is currently held by first-term National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP Mavis Kuukua Bissue.
Afrifa-Mensah, host of For The Record, made his formal declaration public on Facebook on Sunday, November 8. He plans to seek the NPP nomination in Afigya Sekyere East Constituency in the Ashanti Region, using the slogan “With OKAM, Freedom Shall Come”.
“I, Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah, humbly declare my intention to contest for the New Patriotic Party’s Parliamentary Candidature in the Afigya Sekyere East Constituency,” he said in a statement on his campaign flyer.
The broadcaster’s arrest by security operatives in 2025 attracted condemnation from the NPP leadership. He has also recently completed a Master of Laws degree at the University of Connecticut and has been involved in a public dispute with the sitting MP, Mavis Nkansah Boadu.
Boafo, a former Oman FM presenter and ex-Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Director of Public Affairs, announced his intention to contest the Tarkwa-Nsuaem NPP primary in a video message on Thursday, November 5.
His proposed return to the Western Region constituency would take him back to the mining town where he began presenting radio morning shows.
In the Bono Region, Kessben Media personality and legal practitioner Amankwah-Gyan declared his interest in the Berekum East Constituency during a courtesy visit to Berekum Paramount Chief Odeefour Kofi Asante II at his palace.
The NPP’s pre-primary guidelines require prospective parliamentary candidates to register through the party’s online portal and pay a non-refundable GH¢5,000 fee by Tuesday, November 10.
Candidates will then undergo vetting and take part in capacity-building workshops scheduled for December.
Separately, Onua TV host Captain Smart has declared his intention to contest the NDC primary in Gomoa West.
