Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman Paul Awentami Afoko has officially filed his nomination to contest the party’s national chairmanship position.
Afoko says his main goal is to unite the party, rebuild its structures and prepare the NPP to win the 2028 general elections.
Speaking to party executives, delegates and supporters at the NPP headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, August 25, he explained that his decision to contest again was based on his belief that the party needs to put its internal divisions behind it and reconnect with its grassroots.
“I return without bitterness. I return without rancour,” he said, adding that the NPP was “bigger than any individual — including Paul Afoko.”
According to Afoko, the party must heal the divisions that have developed from previous internal elections and make sure every member feels welcome, regardless of which candidate they supported in the past.
“There cannot be one NPP for those who supported Candidate A and another NPP for those who supported Candidate B,” he said. “There is only one New Patriotic Party.”
He also stressed the need to rebuild the party from the grassroots. He said the NPP’s strength must start from polling stations and move through the constituencies to the national level.
Afoko promised to strengthen constituency structures, give greater respect to polling station executives, improve the party’s communication system and use better data to guide its electoral strategy.
He also promised to work closely with the NPP’s presidential candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, to help the party return to power in 2028.
“If you elect me National Chairman, I will work loyally and tirelessly with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to return the New Patriotic Party to government in 2028,” he said.
Afoko also disagreed with suggestions that the party’s presidential candidate and national chairman should not come from the same broad geographical area. He said delegates should instead focus on a candidate’s competence, integrity, experience and temperament.
He further promised that if elected, he would not support or impose any particular candidates for the other national executive positions.
“I have no preferred candidate for General Secretary. I have no preferred candidate for National Organiser. I have no preferred candidate for Treasurer,” he said.
He encouraged delegates to look at all the candidates carefully and make their own decisions when voting.
Reflecting on his previous time as national chairman, Afoko said the experience taught him important lessons that could help the party move forward. He also admitted that his time in office came with its own challenges.
“I do not ask you to return me to office simply because of what I did yesterday,” he said. “I ask you to elect me because what I learnt yesterday can help us win tomorrow.”
The NPP is currently preparing for its national executive elections as the party works to rebuild after losing the 2024 general elections.
Afoko said the party should not wait until 2028 before beginning serious preparations. He urged members to start rebuilding the party’s electoral structures immediately.
He appealed to delegates to support his bid and promised to be a chairman for the entire party, rather than for any particular group or faction.
“No Afoko faction. No regional faction. No candidate’s faction. One Party. One family. One purpose. One united NPP,” he said.
