Afoko Bids For NPP Chairmanship, Pledges To "Reunite, Rebuild, Recapture Power

Story by Fada Amakye

Former NPP National Chairman, Paul Awentami Afoko, has formally declared his intention to contest the New Patriotic Party’s national chairmanship position.

Addressing party stakeholders, Mr. Afoko said he is offering himself “subject to the rules of the party” to help lead the NPP at what he described as a “defining moment. Mr. Afoko said over the past several months he has embarked on a “quiet but important journey” across the party.

I’ve engaged our national executives, our national patrons, National Council of Elders, and I’ve met regional executives, patrons, and the Council of Elders in all the 16 regions,” he said.

He added that he also engaged the party’s presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as well as the parliamentary caucus.

He stressed that the engagements were not campaigning. “The former campaign has not begun. The party has rules, structures, and processes. I respect those rules, and I will submit myself to them,” he stated.

Mr. Afoko said his bid is anchored on a “3Rs” agenda: Reunite, Rebuild, and Recapture Power. “What we’ve done so far has been consultation, listening, reflection, and reconciliation,” he said.

“I’ve heard pain. I’ve heard disappointment. I’ve heard frustration. But I’ve also heard hope. I’ve heard loyalty. I’ve heard courage. I’ve heard a strong desire that the NPP must rise again.

He said the party cannot win when it is divided or when loyal members feel excluded. “We cannot win when old wounds remain open. We cannot win when our internal competition becomes internal destruction,” he said.

Mr. Afoko said he is not coming to lead one faction against another, but to reconcile the party and build bridges across generations, regions and camps.

Our party was not built by one person. It was built by people who endured detention, exile, intimidation, loss, hardship, and even the ultimate sacrifice – death. People have died for this party because they believed that Ghana deserves freedom, enterprise, democracy, accountability,” he said.

He concluded that with the right leadership, organization and spirit, the NPP “can recover, rebuild, and return to government” and once again earn the confidence of Ghanaians.