Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman, Mr. Awentami Paul Afoko, says the party’s defeat in the 2024 elections should not be simplistically blamed on one individual, arguing that rebuilding, not finger-pointing, is what will return the NPP to power.
Addressing a press conference at the Kempinski Hotel on Tuesday, Mr. Afoko formally announced his intention to contest for the position of NPP National Chairman.
“The duty before us now is not to blame. The duty before us is to rebuild,” he told journalists, party executives and supporters.
Mr. Afoko said the setbacks of 2024 resulted from a mix of challenges, including organization, communication, economic conditions, parliamentary dynamics, grassroots morale, public trust and national mood.
“No Presidential Candidate can win without a united party, a strong organisation, disciplined structures, motivated grassroots, and a parliamentary strategy that was constituency by constituency,” he stated.
He added that the party machinery must be united, properly resourced, nationally energised, and strategically disciplined to support the DMB brand.
Mr. Afoko said the NPP cannot win when it is divided and when loyal members feel “excluded, humiliated, ignored, or pushed aside.
“To those who feel hurt, disgruntled, rejected, or forgotten, I say: come home. The NPP needs you,” he said.
He also urged members to “compete without destroying one another” and reminded the party of J.B. Danquah-Busia tradition of tolerance: “BUSIA said – 1 dissenter must have the right to be protected to dissent within the party.”
Outlining his “3Rs” agenda — Reunite, Rebuild, Recapture Power — Mr. Afoko said the NPP must return to strong grassroots work.
“We must know every constituency. We must know every polling station. We must know where we lost, why we lost, and how we can recover,” he said.
He promised to strengthen polling stations, electoral areas, and constituencies and to ensure resources reach party structures.
He cited his 2014-2015 tenure when constituency accounts were opened and parliamentary primaries were well organized, saying, “what we started then, we can do again – and we can do it better.
”The party must also “reverse the parliamentary losses, regain seats, protect strongholds, and recover lost ground,” he added.
Ghana needs a strong NPP.
Mr. Afoko concluded that Ghana needs a responsible opposition and a party ready to return to government, not for power’s sake, but for the potential of power to positively impact the lives of our compatriots.
“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.
