NPP Completes 245 Constituency Elections as Paul Afoko Launches '3Rs' Bid for National Chairmanship

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has successfully conducted constituency executive elections in 245 out of 276 constituencies across Ghana, marking an 88.7 percent success rate in its nationwide restructuring efforts. General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong characterized the exercise as largely peaceful, though the party continues to navigate disputes in 31 constituencies. While most regions reported smooth transitions, the process faced significant disruptions in areas such as Bantama and Ejura Sekyedumase, where police arrested media personality Okatakyie Kwame Afrifa Mensah and others following violent disturbances. Additionally, court injunctions halted proceedings in Tema East and Tema Central, while 23 other elections were postponed due to internal grievances.

At the local level, the elections saw a mix of retention and new leadership aimed at revitalizing the party's grassroots base. In Tano North, Kakari Appau was re-elected as chairman, while Muniru Tanko retained his seat in Techiman South. Other notable victories included Dr. Eugene Danquah Ofori-Appiah in Atwima Nwabiagya South and David Selorm Dartey in Ho West. Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, congratulated the new executives and urged them to treat the Ashanti Region as the ‘engine room’ of the party, setting an ambitious target of securing over 85 percent of the region's votes in the 2028 general elections.

Amidst this restructuring, former National Chairman Paul Awentami Afoko has formally declared his candidacy to return to his former role, centering his campaign on a ‘3Rs’ agenda: Reunite, Rebuild, and Recapture Power. Afoko, who was suspended in 2015, emphasized a message of forgiveness and neutrality, arguing that the party cannot win in 2028 if internal divisions and ‘open wounds’ remain unaddressed. His comeback bid has drawn mixed reactions; pollster Ben Ephson suggested Afoko’s perceived factional neutrality could be an advantage, while political science lecturer Dr. Kwasi Amakye-Boateng viewed the move as a critical opportunity for party reconciliation.

Concurrently, some party activists are advocating for the return of former General Secretary John Boadu, describing him as a ‘tested leader’ capable of fostering a strong partnership with the party's flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. This push for experienced leadership reflects a broader anxiety within the NPP to avoid the factionalism that plagued the party between 2014 and 2016. As the party prepares for its national delegates' conference, the focus remains on healing internal rifts and professionalizing grassroots structures to ensure a unified front for the next electoral cycle.