From Left: John Boadu- National Chairman, Justin Kodua Frimpong- General Secetary, Nii Kwartei Titus Glover- National Organiser, Mavis Hawa Koomson- Women’s Organiser
FORMER General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has returned to the party’s national leadership as National Chairman after winning Saturday’s national executive elections in Kumasi.
Mr. Boadu polled 2,888 votes to beat former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, who obtained 2,048 votes, and former National Chairman, Paul Afoko, who secured 490 votes.
His election was one of the major outcomes of the NPP’s National Delegates Conference held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, which brought together more than 7,000 delegates to elect officers to 11 national positions.
Mr. Boadu’s victory followed a last-minute decision by former First Vice Chairman, Sammy Crabbe, to withdraw from the chairmanship contest and throw his support behind him.
Mr. Crabbe announced his decision as voting got underway on Saturday, urging his supporters to vote for Mr. Boadu.
The election also saw Justin Kodua Frimpong retain his position as General Secretary after polling 4,486 votes.
Kojo Fosu Boadu, popularly known as Kojo Bamba, won the First Vice Chairman position with 3,116 votes after emerging top among the 13 aspirants who contested the three vice-chairmanship positions.
Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, secured the Second Vice Chairman position with 3,061 votes, while Nana Akomea won the Third Vice Chairman position with 2,987 votes.
The Youth Organiser position went to Abanga Yakubu Fuseini, who polled 1,550 votes, while Mavis Hawa Koomson won the Women’s Organiser position with 783 votes.
Titus Glover won the National Organiser position with 2,964 votes, while Alfred Kojo Thompson was elected National Treasurer.
Ali Suraj won the National Nasara Organiser position, while Dennis Miracles Aboagye was declared National Communications Director after being the only person who filed nomination for the position.
There were scenes of celebration at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium after officials of the Electoral Commission (EC), which supervised the election, announced the results.
Boadu Targets 2028
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Boadu pledged to work with the new executives to rebuild the party and prepare it for the 2028 general election.
“JB and his executives are back again and victory is assured in 2028,” he declared.
He said the election of the new executives should not be regarded as a victory for individuals but as a responsibility to serve the party and position it for the next general election.
“Today is not merely a day of victory for anybody, it’s a day of service and responsibility to work for victory for the NPP,” he said.
Mr. Boadu appealed to all candidates who contested the various positions but were unsuccessful to join the new leadership and contribute to the party’s activities.
“On behalf of the executives, I have handed an invitation of friendship to the losers in the election. We need your connections and experience to move the NPP forward,” he said.
“There must be no winners and losers in these polls; there is only one NPP united behind one purpose,” he added.
He said the party’s preparations for the 2028 elections would begin immediately, with the new leadership focusing on the grassroots and working to bring party members together.
According to him, the executives would work with party officials across the country, NPP MPs and organised groups within the party to strengthen the NPP ahead of the election.
Mr. Boadu also pledged to use technology and the media to communicate the party’s message to voters.
“We shall work closely with the social and traditional media to market the NPP to woo the voters,” he said.
He promised that the new administration would operate an open-door policy and listen to the views of party members.
He also said the party would take into consideration the counsel of religious and traditional leaders in shaping its activities.
Mr. Boadu assured the NPP flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, of the support of the new executives ahead of the 2028 elections.
“We shall work closely with our flagbearer,” he stated.
He cautioned party members that victory could not be taken for granted and had to be earned through service and effective organisation.
“Political victory must be earned through service and organisation, so let’s work hard for victory in 2028,” he said.
He urged members to prioritise unity, saying, “Let’s choose unity over division, and let’s choose hope over despair to ensure our targeted victory.”
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi