Paul Afoko Declares NPP Chairmanship Bid as Party Annulls Disputed Constituency Elections

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has entered a critical phase of internal reorganization as it prepares for the 2028 general elections, marked by the high-profile return of former National Chairman Paul Afoko and significant administrative interventions in disputed regions. While the party reported a successful 88.7% completion rate across 245 of 276 constituencies, the process has been marred by legal challenges and violence. The National Steering Committee, led by Acting National Chairman Danquah Smith Buttey, recently took the drastic step of annulling constituency executive elections in Bantama, Afigya Sekyere East, and Adansi Asokwa. These cancellations followed blatant breaches of party directives and the disregard of existing court orders, with the Ashanti Regional Steering Committee now summoned to explain the conduct of these polls.

At the center of the party's future leadership debate is Paul Awentami Afoko, who officially declared his candidacy for the National Chairman position during a press conference in Accra on July 14, 2026. Afoko, who was indefinitely suspended in 2015, emphasized his unwavering loyalty to the party and proposed a vision anchored on the "Three Rs": Reunite, Rebuild, and Recapture power. He urged members to avoid scapegoating individuals for the 2024 electoral defeat and instead focus on a collective effort to support flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Afoko’s campaign highlights the need for reconciliation and the strengthening of grassroots structures to restore public confidence.

Despite the push for unity, several constituencies remain flashpoints of tension. In Afigya Sekyere East, media personality Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah was arrested during a chaotic election scene, with his legal team alleging a deliberate attempt by police to hinder bail. Similarly, in the Weija-Gbawe constituency, former executives are demanding an annulment, alleging that over 500 experienced grassroots members were removed from the delegates' register. These internal frictions extend to the Ashanti Region, where youth coalitions are mobilizing behind former NUGS President Yiadom Boakye Emmanuel for the Regional Youth Organizer role, and the Bono Region, where Abubakar Yakubu is contesting the Communications Director position despite facing cyber-related charges.

The party’s reorganization also extends beyond Ghana’s borders, with Finance and Administration Director William Yamoah setting a firm July 19, 2026, deadline for overseas chapters to hold elections or face exclusion from the upcoming branch polls. Meanwhile, the political landscape is seeing the emergence of new voices, such as 22-year-old law student Nana Agyeiwaa Baffoe-Bonnie Michaels, who is challenging the NPP-NDC duopoly in Manhyia South. As the National Democratic Congress (NDC) also begins its regional restructuring—highlighted by Alhaji Ibrahim Abdul Jalil’s bid for the Northern Regional Chairmanship—the NPP finds itself at a crossroads, balancing democratic renewal with the urgent need to resolve internal disputes that threaten its 2028 ambitions.