Paul Afoko
Aspiring New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman, Paul Awentami Afoko, has called on disgruntled party members to “come back home,” warning that division and exclusion are undermining the NPP’s chances of recapturing power.
Addressing party faithful on Sunday, the former National Chairman said the NPP must close old wounds and return to its founding values of respect, discipline, tolerance, service and loyalty.
“We cannot win when old wounds remain open. We cannot win when loyal members feel excluded, humiliated, ignored, or pushed aside. We cannot win when our internal competition becomes internal destruction,” Mr. Afoko stated.
He said his bid is not to lead one faction against another, but to serve as a reconciler across generations, regions and tendencies within the party.
“I am coming to help reconcile the party. I am coming to build bridges across generations, across regions, across tendencies, across camps, and amongst all genuine party people who believe in our tradition,” he said.
“People sacrificed for the party and endured detention, exile and even death for the cause of democracy and prosperity in Ghana,” he added.
Reconnect With Grassroots
Mr. Afoko urged the NPP to reconnect with its base through detailed constituency and polling station work, honest assessment of 2024 losses, and wide consultations to repair relationships.
“We must listen to communities. We must repair relationships. We must rebuild trust with professional groups, traders, farmers, students, youth groups, women’s groups, faith communities, traditional authorities, civil society, and the business community,” he said.
He pointed out that the party must once again be associated with prosperity, business confidence, rapid development, social mobility and opportunity.
Call For Civil Competition
On internal contests, Mr. Afoko called for civil discourse and unity, invoking the Busia-Danquah-Dombo tradition.
“To those who disagree with me, I say let us disagree as members of one family. Let us compete without destroying one another. Let us remember that after internal elections, we must still stand under one flag,” he said.
He added that the principle of protecting dissent within the party must be upheld.
The aspiring chairman said the next election will not be won by entitlement, but by humility, hard work, credible ideas and disciplined organisation.
“Ghana needs a strong, responsible opposition ready to return to government to improve lives, not for power’s sake alone,” he stated.
Mr. Afoko concluded by urging members to refocus on unity and collective purpose as the NPP prepares for future national contests.
A Daily Guide Report