News
Prof. Oquaye backs Kojo Bamba’s election, says NPP needs men to protect ballot
Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, has backed the election of former Delta Force leader Kojo Ofosu Boadu, affectionately called Kojo Bamba as the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) First Vice Chairman, saying the party needs people who can protect its votes during elections.
According to Prof. Oquaye on Joy FM today, the NPP had dissolved its party security groups following the passage of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, and had agreed that the Ghana Police Service should be responsible for security during elections.
However, he said events during the 2024 general election had raised concerns about the ability of the police to protect ballot boxes and ensure peaceful elections.
He alleged that some persons associated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) seized ballot boxes, attacked people and disrupted voting during the election.
Prof. Oquaye argued that the NPP could not simply ignore such incidents and expect its supporters to remain unprotected.
He said while he did not support the establishment of a parallel security system to replace the police, the NPP must be prepared to defend itself if the state security agencies failed to protect its people.
“Because if the state will not protect you, you will protect yourself,” he said.
Prof. Oquaye defended Kojo Bamba’s election, insisting that the NPP should not be seen as restoring its former vigilante groups.
He said the party had men capable of responding to threats, but stressed that the issue should not be reduced to “machoism” in Ghanaian politics.
“The NPP has men. Therefore, let us take machoism out of this politics,” he said.
When asked directly whether he supported the establishment of a protective group within the NPP, Prof. Ocquaye said the country must seriously address what happened during the last election.
He further said that when criminals or attackers enter a home, the father of the house would call for the men to protect the family.
Prof. Oquaye maintained that his position was rooted in the need to protect Ghana’s peace and ensure that no political party believed it had a monopoly over violence or intimidation.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the party said interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period.
The party said a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000 would be charged to each prospective candidate.
It added that all applicants would undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility to contest on the party’s ticket.
The NPP announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December 2026. The workshops will be held across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones, with details of the venues to be announced later.
The party stressed that the guidelines would apply to all prospective candidates, including sitting NPP Members of Parliament who wish to contest again.
It further warned aspirants against starting campaign activities following the opening of the application process.
According to the statement, the existing directive prohibiting campaign activities remains in force until the party gives official clearance.
It cautioned that anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions under the party’s constitution and regulations.
The NPP said the process was designed to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants as it prepares to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.
It urged prospective candidates to follow the guidelines and conduct themselves with discipline and respect for one another throughout the process.
The party said its broader objective was to strengthen unity within its ranks and rebuild public confidence ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
eputy Foreign Minister accompanies Veep to Shanghai to champion Global South reform, industrial drive
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, accompanied Vice-President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on a successful working visit to Shanghai, China, from 15th to 19th October 2026, at the invitation of the East China Normal University (ECNU).
The highlight of the visit was the 2026 Global South Academic Forum held on 17th October, which brought together over 200 scholars, policymakers, political party leaders and media professionals from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, under the theme “Global South Political Parties: Governance and Modernisation.”
In her keynote address, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang asserted that political independence is only truly the beginning, stating that “winning political power and governing effectively are related but not the same responsibility.” She called for stronger South-South cooperation, multilateralism and reform of the global financial architecture to end debt traps, ensure fair risk assessments and promote climate policies that respect different national circumstances.
On 18th October, she addressed a business forum with Chinese investors, linking Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy policy to industrialization. Warning that training youth without factories creates unemployment, she appealed for factories to be established in Ghana to serve the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market, with priority on value addition in cocoa processing, shea butter, cashew, coconut and timber.
On October 19, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Kojo Bonsu, hosted a dinner at the Shangri-La for the Vice-President, attended by members of the Ghanaian community and business leaders, who praised the thorough preparation by the Ghana Embassy staff for the visit.
Throughout the trip, Mr. Quayson coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to align the engagements with Ghana’s jobs and transformation agenda.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
