NPP must prioritise competence over ethnicity -Paul Afoko

A New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman hopeful, Paul Awentami Afoko, has called on the party to select its next national leaders based on competence rather than ethnic considerations.

Mr Afoko made the remarks during separate consultative meetings with the Ashanti Regional Council of Elders and the Ashanti Regional Executives in Kumasi, as part of a nationwide outreach to party stakeholders ahead of the NPP’s National Delegates Conference.

Addressing both groups, the former national chairman cautioned against dwelling excessively on the party’s 2024 electoral defeat and engaging in blame games. Instead, he urged members to focus on rebuilding.

“We need to gather collective experiences,” Mr Afoko said.

He stressed that his ambition is rooted in service rather than personal advancement. “I would want to be remembered for rebuilding the party. We must all put our hands on deck. We cannot sit and watch the party slide backwards.”

Mr Afoko acknowledged the Ashanti Region’s significance to the NPP’s electoral fortunes, telling regional leaders: “The heartbeat of the NPP is the Ashanti Region, and that remains a fact. I am open to advice because you are the ones running the party.”

He further urged unity, warning that the NPP cannot afford to leave power in the hands of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) indefinitely. He called on party faithful to combine their experiences to salvage the party’s fortunes ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Speakers at both meetings encouraged Mr Afoko to remain committed to his rebuilding agenda, describing his efforts as vital to making the party a formidable force once again.

Mr Afoko is campaigning on what he calls his “3R Agenda”: Reunite, Rebuild, Recapture — a framework he argues is critical to returning the NPP to power.