Paul Afoko declares intent to run for NPP national chairmanship race

Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Awentami Afoko, has officially declared his intention to contest for the party’s National Chairman position, promising to reunite the party, strengthen its structures and lead efforts to return the NPP to power.

Mr. Afoko announced his decision at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, after what he described as months of consultations with key stakeholders across the party.

He disclosed that he had engaged the NPP’s presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, members of the party’s parliamentary caucus, former executives, grassroots members, women, youth, parliamentary candidates and other party faithful before reaching his decision.

Mr. Afoko clarified that the consultations were not part of his campaign, stressing that he would abide by the party’s rules and processes before officially launching his campaign.

He explained that feedback from the engagements revealed disappointment and frustration among party members but also a strong desire to see the NPP recover from its 2024 electoral defeat.

According to him, the party is at a critical stage and requires experienced leadership capable of rebuilding unity and restoring public confidence.

Mr. Afoko said his vision is built around what he described as the “three Rs” — reunite, reorganise and recapture power.

He noted that internal divisions have weakened the NPP and urged members to set aside differences and work together.

“The NPP cannot win when loyal members feel excluded, ignored or pushed aside. We must bring back respect, discipline, tolerance, service and loyalty to the party,” he stated.

The former chairman pledged to bridge divisions across generations, regions and factions within the party, insisting that he was seeking to unite members rather than lead one group against another.

He promised to strengthen the party’s organisational structures from the polling station level to the national leadership.

Mr. Afoko recalled that during his previous tenure as National Chairman in 2014, the party introduced constituency resource accounts, strengthened parliamentary primaries and focused on grassroots support.

He expressed confidence that similar organisational reforms could help prepare the NPP for victory in the next general election.

The aspiring chairman said the NPP must rebuild trust with traders, farmers, businesses, professionals, young people and other groups who felt disappointed by some decisions taken while the party was in government.

He acknowledged that mistakes were made and called on the party to demonstrate humility by listening to Ghanaians and correcting its shortcomings.

Mr. Afoko pledged to prioritise the involvement of women and young people in the party’s leadership and decision-making.

He said women should no longer be treated as an afterthought but should play central roles in party organisation, fundraising, mobilisation and leadership development.

Addressing concerns about regional balance within the NPP leadership, Mr. Afoko rejected suggestions that the party should avoid having both its presidential candidate and national chairman from northern Ghana.

He maintained that the NPP is a national party whose leadership should be determined by competence, commitment and the ability to unite members rather than by geography or ethnicity.

He further appealed to party members to support the NPP’s presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, saying no flag bearer could succeed without a united and well-organised party.

Mr. Afoko argued that the party’s defeat in the 2024 general election could not be blamed on one individual, adding that many factors contributed to the outcome.

During a question-and-answer session, he dismissed concerns that his return could revive past divisions within the party.

He disclosed that he had forgiven those involved in his suspension as National Chairman and no longer held bitterness against anyone.

“I was angry at the time because a mandate given to me by the party was taken away. But that is behind me. The state of the party will not allow us to dwell on emotions. There is no more bitterness or anger,” he said.

Mr. Afoko described unity as non-negotiable, saying healthy internal debate should strengthen rather than divide the party.

He also revealed that he had informed several leading figures in the NPP, including Kennedy Agyapong, about his intention to contest the chairmanship.

According to him, his discussions with Mr. Agyapong focused on the need to reunite the party and encourage experienced members to become actively involved again.

Mr. Afoko concluded by calling on party elders, executives, Members of Parliament, women, youth and grassroots supporters to work together to rebuild the NPP ahead of the next general election.

He formally announced his intention to contest for the National Chairman position, subject to the party’s rules and processes, and said he would officially launch his campaign at the appropriate time.

By: Jacob Aggrey