Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman Paul Afoko has declared his intention to contest the party’s national chairmanship position, insisting that the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 general election cannot be blamed on a single individual.
Announcing his decision on July 14, 2026, Afoko said his ambition is to help rebuild a united and well-organised party capable of returning former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to the presidency.
“Dr Bawumia represents an important opportunity for the NPP and for Ghana,” Afoko said. “He must be supported by a party machinery that is united, properly resourced, and ready.”
The former chairman rejected suggestions that one person should shoulder responsibility for the party’s electoral loss, arguing that several factors contributed to the outcome.
“I do not believe that the setbacks of the 2024 elections should be simplistically placed at the feet of one person,” he stated.
“Elections are won or lost due to many factors. Organisation, communication, economic conditions, parliamentary dynamics, grassroots morale, public trust, candidate selection, and the national mood all contribute to outcomes.”
Afoko urged party members to shift their attention from assigning blame to rebuilding the NPP ahead of future elections.
“The duty before us now is not to blame. The duty before us is to rebuild this party,” he said.
He also outlined his vision for the party if elected National Chairman, promising to strengthen its structures from the grassroots to the national level.
“When I am given the honour to serve again as National Chairman, I will work to support our presidential candidate, support our parliamentary candidates, support our constituencies, and restore confidence in the party from the polling station to the national level,” he added.
Afoko previously served as NPP National Chairman before his suspension in 2015 amid internal party disputes.
The NPP’s upcoming internal elections are expected to attract significant attention as the party seeks to reorganise and position itself for the next general elections.
