Paul Afoko Declares Bid for NPP National Chairmanship, Calls for Unity and Party Rebuilding
By Boakye Stephen, Kumasi, Ghana | Reporting for Ghanaian News Canada | July 14,2026
Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Awentami Afoko, has formally announced his intention to contest once again for the party’s National Chairman position, urging members to focus on rebuilding and reunifying the party following its defeat in the 2024 general election.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Mr Afoko said he would officially file his nomination when the party opens the nomination process, describing his decision as one guided by humility, confidence and faith in God.
“I announce my intention to formally offer myself for the position of National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, subject to the party’s rules and timelines at the appropriate time,” he stated.
Mr Afoko also invited party executives, members, supporters and sympathisers to join him at the official launch of his campaign after nominations commence. He prayed for God’s guidance and blessings upon the party, its 2024 presidential candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, party elders, executives and the wider membership.
The former Chairman, who was indefinitely suspended from office in 2015 amid internal party disagreements ahead of the 2016 general election, said the NPP must now look beyond past divisions and concentrate on restoring public confidence.
Reflecting on the party’s electoral loss in 2024, Mr Afoko argued that the defeat resulted from a combination of factors rather than the actions of any single individual.
“The duty before us now is not to blame. The duty before us is to rebuild,” he declared.
According to him, organisational weaknesses, ineffective communication, prevailing economic conditions, parliamentary challenges, declining grassroots morale, waning public confidence and the broader national political climate all contributed to the party’s defeat.
He stressed that electoral victory requires more than a popular presidential candidate, insisting that success depends on a united organisation, disciplined party structures, motivated grassroots supporters and an effective parliamentary strategy across every constituency.
“No presidential candidate can win without a united party, a strong organisation, disciplined structures, motivated grassroots and a parliamentary strategy that works constituency by constituency,” he said.
Mr Afoko appealed to members who feel alienated, neglected or disappointed to return to the party and contribute to its rebuilding efforts.
“To those who feel hurt, disgruntled, rejected or forgotten, I say: come home. The NPP needs you,” he urged.
Calling for unity ahead of future internal elections, he encouraged aspirants to compete respectfully without undermining one another and cited the party’s Danquah-Busia tradition as one founded on tolerance, dialogue and democratic values.
As part of his campaign platform, Mr Afoko unveiled what he described as the “3Rs” agenda—Reunite, Rebuild and Recapture Power.
Under this agenda, he pledged to strengthen party structures from the polling station level upward, improve grassroots mobilisation, ensure equitable distribution of resources to constituency organisations and restore confidence among party members.
He also promised to help the NPP regain parliamentary seats lost in previous elections while protecting constituencies traditionally considered party strongholds.
Looking back on his previous tenure as National Chairman between 2014 and 2015, Mr Afoko highlighted several initiatives introduced during that period, including the establishment of constituency bank accounts and the successful organisation of parliamentary primaries.
He argued that those initiatives demonstrated what effective leadership could achieve and expressed confidence that the party could build on those experiences.
“What we started then, we can do again—and we can do it better,” he remarked.
Mr Afoko concluded by saying Ghana needs a strong and credible opposition capable of offering effective national leadership, adding that the NPP’s return to government would depend on discipline, humility, sound ideas and renewed commitment to national development rather than entitlement.
“The next election will not be won by entitlement. It will be won by humility, hard work, credible ideas, disciplined organisation and a renewed commitment to national development,” he said.
Commentary | Boakye Stephen
Leadership contests often shape the future direction of political parties. As the NPP begins its rebuilding process, internal unity, organisational reforms and constructive policy engagement are likely to determine how effectively the party positions itself ahead of the 2028 general election. Healthy internal democracy, conducted peacefully and respectfully, remains essential to strengthening Ghana’s multiparty democratic system.
