Suspended Chairman Paul Afoko Launches Bid for NPP National Chairmanship with Key Stakeholder Consultations | Discuss Ghana

In a major, high-stakes political comeback that is set to heavily shake up the internal dynamics of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), former National Chairman Awentami Paul Afoko has formally declared his intention to contest the position of National Chairman once again.

Afoko’s dramatic return to active front-line politics comes during a crucial period of restructuring for the NPP following its 2024 general election defeat. Propelling himself back into the center of the party's decision-making apparatus, Afoko has begun the second phase of a series of high-profile, high-vibe consultative meetings with the party's ultimate power brokers.

Ahead of the upcoming NPP National Delegates Conference, his team confirmed that he has held private, key strategic consultations with former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, and the party’s 2024 flagbearer, former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

The Anatomy of a Historic Return: The 3R Blueprint

Afoko, who historically won the NPP chairmanship in Tamale in 2014 before facing a highly controversial, high-friction indefinite suspension in October 2015, is centering his bid on reconciliation and structural reform:

The 3R Agenda (Reunite, Rebuild, Recapture): Afoko’s campaign is running on a clear, uncompromised three-pronged blueprint designed to heal the factional and structural fractures that contributed to the party losing executive power. His team has emphasized that rebuilding the party cannot happen by ignoring its historical foundations.

Mending Fences at the Highest Level: His consultative tour—which initially saw him meet with all five presidential aspirants before the January 31, 2026 primary—is a deliberate effort to heal old wounds. By sitting down with both Kufuor and Akufo-Addo, Afoko is sending a powerful message of unity to a base that has long been divided by historical internal conflicts.

Competence Over Ethnicity: Addressing key party stakeholders, including the Ashanti Regional Council of Elders and regional executives, Afoko has repeatedly stressed that the NPP must prioritize absolute, uncompromised competence over regional or ethnic sentiments when choosing its next leader to ensure the party is fighting-fit for the 2028 electoral battle.