Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Awentami Paul Afoko, has officially declared his intention to contest for the party’s National Chairmanship, promising to reunite the party, strengthen its structures and position it to recapture political power.
Announcing his decision at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, Mr. Afoko said his decision followed months of consultations with key stakeholders across the party, including national executives, regional executives, party elders, Members of Parliament, former appointees, grassroots members and the party’s 2024 Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
He stressed that the engagements were not part of a campaign but rather consultations aimed at listening to concerns, reflecting on the party’s challenges and promoting reconciliation.
“It is after these extensive consultations that I am here today to formally announce my intention to offer myself, subject to the rules of the party, for the position of National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party,” he declared.
Mr. Afoko anchored his vision on what he described as the “three Rs” – reunite, rebuild and recapture power – insisting that they represent practical steps to restore the NPP after its 2024 electoral defeat.
According to him, the party cannot return to government while internal divisions persist. “The New Patriotic Party cannot win when it is divided. We cannot win when old wounds remain open. We cannot win when loyal members feel excluded, humiliated, ignored or pushed aside,” he said.
He pledged to bridge divisions across generations, regions and factions, adding that his ambition was to reconcile the party rather than deepen existing differences.
On party organisation, the former chairman argued that electoral success depends on strong grassroots structures rather than rhetoric.
He recalled initiatives undertaken during his previous tenure as National Chairman, including resourcing constituency offices, strengthening constituency structures and promoting organisational discipline.
Although he did not complete his tenure, Mr. Afoko said he had remained loyal to the party by continuing to pay his dues and support candidates and constituencies despite his suspension.
He promised that, if elected again, he would strengthen polling station and constituency structures, improve communication between the grassroots and national leadership, and serve as “a team player, a field commander, a reconciler, an organiser, a fundraiser, a disciplinarian, a listener and a servant of the party.”
Touching on the party’s electoral prospects, Mr. Afoko acknowledged that some businesses had become disillusioned with the NPP due to policy decisions that created hardship but maintained that the party remained Ghana’s natural home for enterprise and wealth creation.
He also pledged greater opportunities for young people, saying the NPP must prepare Ghanaian youth for emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech and renewable energy.
He further promised to place women at the centre of the party’s rebuilding efforts, describing them as critical to organisation, mobilisation, fundraising and leadership development.
Addressing concerns over both the party’s presidential candidate and a potential national chairman coming from northern Ghana, Mr. Afoko dismissed suggestions that regional considerations should determine leadership.
He argued that the NPP is a national party built on ideas rather than ethnicity or geography and should judge leaders based on competence, commitment and capacity to unite and win elections.
He maintained that having Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia from the North East Region and himself from the Upper East Region should instead demonstrate the party’s national character and inclusiveness.
Mr. Afoko also urged party members to rally behind Dr. Bawumia, insisting that the party’s 2024 electoral defeat should not be blamed on a single individual.
“Elections are won or lost through many factors: organisation, communication, economic conditions, parliamentary dynamics, grassroots morale, public trust, candidate selection and national mood,” he said.
He called for renewed focus on resolving internal disputes, rebuilding trust with the electorate and strengthening parliamentary prospects ahead of the next general election.
Appealing for unity, Mr. Afoko urged members who feel alienated to return and contribute to rebuilding the party.
“The NPP has heard you. We know that trust must be earned again. We know that words alone will not be enough,” he said, adding that the party’s return to power would depend on humility, hard work, disciplined organisation and credible ideas.
He concluded by formally announcing his bid for the National Chairmanship, expressing confidence that the NPP could reunite, reorganise and return to government.
By Jennifer Ambolley and Liz Mitchell
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