The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Samuel Kwabena Awuku, has received a major grassroots endorsement from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the constituency, following a coordinated move by constituency executives, electoral area coordinating committees and elected assembly members to back his candidature for the 2028 general elections.

In what appears to be a significant show of support for the incumbent legislator, the Akuapem North Constituency Executive Committee and the Electoral Area Coordinating Committee have formally petitioned the party's Eastern Regional and National leadership to allow Awuku to contest the next parliamentary elections as the NPP's sole candidate.

The endorsement, contained in a petition dated November 10, 2026, follows a series of consultations within the constituency and is supported by a separate petition from the NPP's elected assembly members, who have also declared their collective backing for the MP's retention.

The move is particularly significant as the NPP begins preparations for its 2028 parliamentary candidate selection, with party structures across the country expected to determine the individuals who will lead their respective constituencies into the next general elections.

According to the constituency executives' petition, the decision to endorse Awuku was reached after a meeting held on Sunday, November 8, 2026, during which all 22 members of the Constituency Executive Committee unanimously expressed confidence in his leadership and parliamentary representation.

The executives subsequently extended their consultations to the 32 Electoral Area Coordinating Committees, comprising 160 members across the constituency.

The outcome, as presented in the petition, showed that 138 of the 160 electoral area executives endorsed Awuku to go unopposed. Another 13 members reportedly indicated their willingness to append their signatures but were outside the jurisdiction during the consultations, while nine expressed the opinion that the parliamentary primary should be contested.

The figures have been presented by the party's constituency leadership as evidence of considerable grassroots support for the sitting MP and an indication that many local party officials prefer continuity over another internal contest.

Petitions

The constituency executive endorsement has been reinforced by a separate petition submitted by NPP elected assembly members in Akuapem North.

In their letter, also dated November 10, 2026, the assembly members declared what they described as their unanimous support for Mr Awuku to be retained as the party's parliamentary candidate for the 2028 general elections.

The petition, presented by Hon. Stephen Danquah, who acted as convener and secretary of the group, stated that the assembly members had deliberated extensively at a meeting on Sunday, November 8, before reaching their decision.

They argued that the incumbent MP had demonstrated exemplary leadership, humility and commitment to the development of Akuapem North since assuming parliamentary office.

The assembly members specifically highlighted his interventions in infrastructure, education, youth empowerment and employment, insisting that his continued representation would be important to the constituency's development and the NPP's electoral fortunes.

They consequently appealed to the party's regional and national leadership to give consideration to what they described as the collective preference of the grassroots.

The assembly members also pledged their full commitment to working towards victory for the NPP under Awuku's candidature in 2028.

Together, the two petitions provide an organised demonstration of support from different levels of the party's constituency structures, although the endorsements do not automatically determine the outcome of the formal parliamentary candidate selection process.

Education

In explaining why they believe Awuku deserves another opportunity to represent Akuapem North, the constituency executives outlined several initiatives they said had positively affected communities across the constituency.

Education was among the major areas highlighted in the endorsement document.

The executives cited the MP's sponsorship of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) mock examinations over the past five years, the distribution of mathematical sets to candidates and financial assistance to students pursuing tertiary education.

They also mentioned his sponsorship of refresher courses and seminars intended to improve the academic development and future prospects of young people.

Beyond direct student support, the executives listed interventions in educational infrastructure, including the construction and renovation of classroom blocks, provision of school furniture and distribution of learning materials to various institutions.

They argued that these interventions demonstrate an approach to parliamentary representation that places considerable emphasis on human capital development and the educational advancement of children and young people.

The executives maintained that the MP's educational interventions have been part of a broader effort to ensure that development opportunities reach communities throughout Akuapem North.

Social Amenities

Infrastructure development also featured prominently in the petition, with the executives listing several projects and community interventions they attributed to Awuku since 2023.

These include the construction and renovation of school facilities, provision of potable drinking water, construction of public toilets, road construction and reshaping, and the establishment of a police station.

The document also mentioned the construction of an Astroturf facility and a multipurpose sports facility as part of efforts to improve recreational opportunities and community infrastructure.

According to the executives, the MP's interventions have extended across the constituency's 32 electoral areas, with the objective of ensuring that development is not concentrated in only a few communities.

They described the projects as evidence of his commitment to addressing practical needs at the community level and improving the living conditions of residents.

The petition further argued that his support for community-based projects reflects an understanding that effective parliamentary representation must go beyond participation in debates and legislative activities in Accra.

21 YOUNG WOMEN SPONSORED FOR TRAINING IN RUSSIA

Youth empowerment and employment were also central to the reasons given for the endorsement.

The constituency executives disclosed that Mr Awuku had sponsored 21 young women under the age of 22 to undertake skills training in Russia, an intervention they said was aimed at expanding their opportunities for personal development and economic independence.

They also indicated that 120 young people had received training in catfish farming, baking and soap making.

An additional 300 young people, according to the petition, are expected to benefit from training in palm nut processing, fruit processing, digital marketing and local drink production.

The executives further credited the MP with securing employment opportunities for constituents in both the public and private sectors.

Their argument is that providing young people with practical skills and access to employment can help reduce unemployment while strengthening economic activity within the municipality.

The youth empowerment initiatives were therefore presented as an important component of the MP's development record and a reason for supporting his continued representation.

Local Business

The constituency leadership also highlighted Mr Awuku's economic interventions, particularly his support for market women, farmers and artisans.

According to the petition, the MP has continued to provide financial assistance to market women and farming inputs to farmers, while artisans have received working equipment to support their businesses.

The introduction of the Ofie Market was specifically identified as an important intervention intended to create a platform for local farmers to sell their produce and stimulate economic activities within Akuapem North.

The executives said the initiative had received widespread acceptance and was contributing to efforts to strengthen the local economy.

They maintained that supporting farmers, traders and artisans is essential to improving household incomes and creating opportunities for people who depend on small-scale economic activities for their livelihoods.

The Ofie Market, together with the other economic support programmes, was presented as part of the MP's broader approach to community development.

Accessibility

Another major issue raised in the endorsement petition was the MP's relationship with constituents and his accessibility.

The executives described Mr Awuku as one of the most visible MPs to have represented Akuapem North in recent years, pointing to his engagement with traditional authorities, religious institutions, community leaders, identifiable groups and ordinary residents.

They particularly highlighted the establishment of a constituency office, which they said operates from Monday to Friday and provides residents with an opportunity to access their representative without necessarily travelling to Accra.

The office, located at Mamfe, was officially inaugurated in May 2026. At the time, Awuku indicated that he would personally operate from the facility every Monday ahead of parliamentary sittings, while making it accessible to constituents regardless of their political affiliation.

The constituency executives argued that this arrangement has strengthened communication between the MP and residents while providing a platform for concerns relating to education, healthcare, social development and other community needs to be addressed.

They also praised his efforts to maintain relationships with party faithful and strengthen the NPP's organisational structures at the polling station, electoral area and constituency levels.

His Achievements

Awuku's political background is another factor that could influence the party's consideration of his candidature.

Born on April 10, 1984, in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, he built his political career through party organisation and youth mobilisation before entering Parliament.

He previously served as Deputy Communications Director of the NPP between 2011 and 2013, National Organiser from 2014 to 2018 and National Youth Organiser from 2018 to 2022.

His time as National Youth Organiser established him as one of the party's prominent youth mobilisation figures, particularly during the period leading to the NPP's victory in the 2016 general elections.

He also held international political leadership positions, including serving as Vice Chairman of the International Young Democrats Union between 2014 and 2017.

Beyond party politics, Awuku served as Board Chairman of the Youth Employment Agency from 2017 to 2021 before his appointment as Director-General of the National Lottery Authority in 2021.

He remained at the NLA until 2025, when he transitioned from public administration into parliamentary representation.

His experience in party organisation and public service was among the considerations highlighted by the constituency executives, who described him as a politician with the organisational capacity and experience required to advance the interests of Akuapem North.

Awuku entered Parliament following the 2024 general elections after securing the NPP parliamentary candidature for Akuapem North.

He was acclaimed as the party's parliamentary candidate in December 2023 after the previous MP, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei, pursued the NPP candidature in Okaikwei North.

In the December 2024 parliamentary elections, Awuku secured 28,365 votes, representing 66.61 per cent, to defeat the NDC's John Evans, who obtained 14,217 votes.

His victory made him the new parliamentary representative for the constituency, succeeding Dokua, who had represented the area from 2017 to 2025.

Since assuming office on January 7, 2025, he has combined his parliamentary responsibilities with constituency engagements and development initiatives, several of which now feature in the petitions submitted by the party's local structures.

Unopposed

The endorsement documents make a strong case for continuity, arguing that Akuapem North should consolidate ongoing development initiatives rather than divert its energies into what the executives describe as unnecessary internal divisions.

They acknowledged that internal party democracy provides members with the opportunity to select their preferred parliamentary candidate. However, they argued that the party must also recognise commitment, performance and the importance of building consensus around candidates who have demonstrated the capacity to deliver.

In their view, another competitive primary could consume resources and attention that should instead be directed towards strengthening the NPP's structures and preparing for the 2028 general elections.

The constituency executive committee specifically maintained that Awuku's continued representation would provide an opportunity to complete unfinished development priorities, consolidate existing achievements and improve the party's electoral competitiveness.

The assembly members similarly argued that retaining the incumbent would be important to the NPP's efforts to secure victory in both the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Their position is that a consensus-driven process would help preserve unity while allowing the party to focus on its broader political objectives.