Paul Afoko Breaks Silence to Demand Strategic Overhaul of NPP Ahead of 2028 Elections

Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, has officially ended a years-long hiatus from active politics with a blunt assessment of the party’s current state. Speaking at a consultative meeting with the Greater Accra Regional Executive Committee on May 21, 2026, Afoko warned that the party has lost significant ground due to internal complacency and a weakened electoral structure. His return, marked by a nationwide tour to engage grassroots leaders, signals a strategic effort to reposition himself as a unifying figure and rebuild the party’s foundation following recent electoral challenges.

Central to Afoko’s comeback is a call for the NPP to abandon what he describes as "guesswork" in favor of a rigorous, research-driven strategy. Addressing the NPP Minority Caucus, he emphasized that the path to victory in 2028 requires data-driven planning and deep investments in polling and voter insight mechanisms. “No more guesswork. If we want to win, we must know exactly where we stand, constituency by constituency,” Afoko stated. He highlighted the urgent need to protect the current 87 parliamentary seats while expanding the party's reach through informed decision-making rather than reliance on tradition or assumptions.

Reflecting on his controversial past leadership and subsequent suspension, Afoko described his long absence as a “strategic decision” aimed at maintaining party cohesion. He expressed regret that his previous attempts to support the administration were often met with hostility, likening his experience to seeing the "promised land" but being prevented from entering. He advocated for a return to the operational efficiency he claims to have established during his tenure, urging members to confront the reality of their declining structural integrity rather than remaining in denial about the party's internal fractures.

While Afoko pushes for national strategic reform, the party is also grappling with localized issues of internal discipline. In the Upper East Region, the NPP Regional Organiser, Charles Taleog Ndanbon, was recently arrested by the Ghana Police following a dispute over a party-owned Changan Hunter pick-up truck. Despite directives to return vehicles assigned to constituencies after the 2024 elections, Ndanbon allegedly withheld the vehicle under the guise of it being faulty. This incident, which ended with Ndanbon being granted bail and the vehicle's return, underscores the administrative challenges the party faces as it seeks to professionalize its operations.

As the NPP looks toward the 2028 electoral cycle, Afoko’s re-emergence introduces a pivotal moment of soul-searching. His engagements are seen as a step toward addressing the deep-seated divisions that have plagued the party since his departure. The success of the NPP’s rebuilding effort will likely depend on whether the leadership can successfully integrate Afoko’s call for scientific political strategy with the need for strict internal discipline and a unified front among its various factions.