Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, has expressed confidence that the party can reclaim power in the 2028 general elections if it remains united and rallies behind former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
According to Afoko, the 2028 election presents a unique opportunity for the NPP because President John Dramani Mahama, who has featured prominently on Ghana’s presidential ballot for several election cycles, will no longer be eligible to contest.
He argued that this creates the perfect environment for the NPP to market Dr. Bawumia as its presidential candidate, describing him as a well-known, experienced and formidable politician capable of leading the party back to power.
“For the first time, we have a unique opportunity. At the time I put the New Plan for Power in place, we knew that the sitting president could go again and if he won another term, we would sit in opposition for twelve years. We had to put a plan in place to make sure we came to power, and we did. This time around, he will not be on the ballot paper and this offers us a unique opportunity, but without unity we will not get there,” Afoko stated.
The aspiring national chairman made the remarks during separate engagements with NPP regional executives, patrons and party elders in the Volta, Oti and Eastern regions.
Afoko stressed that unity within the party remains non-negotiable if the NPP hopes to return to government in 2028.
“As for unity, it is not negotiable. You can’t sit here and look at the person next to you and say you don’t like them, so you can’t work together. We are working together for power, and if we let emotions get in the way, we lose,” he said.
He urged party members to put aside personal grievances and focus on the collective goal of winning power.
Drawing inspiration from legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, Afoko cautioned against allowing emotions to distract the party from its mission.
“Emotions won’t give us power. Saying I didn’t get something, so I won’t support the party should be left in the past,” he added.
Afoko is campaigning on a “3R Agenda”: Reunite, Rebuild and Recapture Power, which he believes will restore the NPP’s electoral fortunes.
He maintained that with a united front and Dr. Bawumia as the party’s flagbearer, the NPP stands a strong chance of winning the next presidential election.
“For years, I chose to work quietly behind the scenes, supporting the NPP in private. But recent developments have compelled me to step forward. We need to get our party back into winning ways, and that starts with unity of purpose,” Afoko said.
He expressed optimism that party members would come together and work toward making Dr. Bawumia Ghana’s next president in 2028.
