NPP Intensifies Regional Executive Elections Across Ghana Amid Vetting Milestones and Internal Friction

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accelerated its internal restructuring processes with a flurry of regional executive election activities across Ghana. In the Ashanti Region, a critical electoral stronghold, the party's vetting committee has cleared 20 aspirants to contest six key positions, including First Vice Chairman, Youth Organiser, and Nasara Coordinator. The vetting process, held at the Hasta Hotel in Kumasi, is set to continue for remaining portfolios such as Regional Chairman and Secretary. Odeneho Kwaku Appiah (COKA), a leading chairmanship aspirant, has expressed strong confidence in his bid to restore the party’s dominance in the region, facing off against Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu in a race focused on reclaiming lost parliamentary seats and boosting the party's performance for the 2028 General Elections.

Despite the progress in the Ashanti Region, the process has been marred by reports of internal discord and threats of mass defection. Grassroots members in key constituencies like Bantama and Kumasi have raised concerns over alleged manipulation of the electoral process by influential party figures. This unrest has prompted calls for greater accountability from the National Executive Committee to prevent a fracture in the party's support base. Conversely, in the Ho West Constituency, a spirit of reconciliation was demonstrated as Mrs. Gloria Fenu-Kofitse conceded gracefully to Mr. Samuel Debrah in the First Vice Chairperson race, urging party members to prioritize unity over individual ambitions as they look toward future national polls.

In other parts of the country, the election machinery is moving steadily. In the Western Region, the vetting committee has concluded the screening of 30 aspirants in Takoradi, with Chairperson Gifty Kusi emphasizing the need for issue-based campaigns that avoid personal insults. Similarly, the Bono East Region saw 24 candidates file their nominations by the July 17 deadline for various executive roles. In the Oti Region, chairmanship hopefuls Dr. Frank Yirenkyi and Hajia Sherifa Selina Sekyere-Tijani have both pledged to rebuild the party's grassroots organization and reverse the electoral decline observed in the 2024 cycle, positioning the NPP for a more robust showing in the next general election.

While the NPP focuses on internal leadership transitions, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has also begun positioning itself for the 2028 elections. Pastor Dr. Divine Bubune Ayivor recently announced the party's strategy to emerge as a "corrective political force." The CPP’s platform focuses on industrial sovereignty, the nationalization of mines, and a shift away from a raw-material export economy. By advocating for nuclear energy and local resource processing, the CPP aims to distinguish itself from both the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), offering a modern adaptation of Nkrumaist ideals to address Ghana’s structural economic challenges.