Member of Parliament for Walewale, Dr. Abdul-Kabiru Tiah Mahama, has described the evolution of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a natural “systemic shift,” arguing that the party has grown beyond the control or influence of a few founding figures.
Speaking on The Verdict, with Isaac Addae on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Dr. Tiah Mahama addressed recent criticisms from veteran politician Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe, emphasizing that the NPP’s resilience over the past decade reflects its broad national character.
“Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe left the party almost a decade ago, yet the NPP has survived and grown within that period,” he noted.
He also recalled similar criticisms directed at former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ahead of the 2016 elections, yet the party went on to wrestle power from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and form government in 2017.
“He said worse things about Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, but Nana Addo still led the NPP to victory in 2016,” Dr. Tiah Mahama stated.
While acknowledging Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe’s right to disagree with the current direction of the party, the MP emphasized that the NPP has played a significant role in uplifting the generation to which its founding members belong.
“The NPP is far broader and wider than they would imagine,” he said. “They should appreciate the fact that the party may once have been in the pocket of a few people, but based on its national character, it has grown beyond that.”
According to the Walewale MP, political parties inevitably evolve, driven by changing demographics and generational transitions.
“The NPP is a national party and cannot be controlled by a few people,” he asserted, adding that younger generations, including Gen Zs and millennials, are increasingly shaping the party’s future.
He drew parallels with the NDC, noting that although it was once closely associated with the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, the party has also evolved beyond its founding figure.
“The NDC was the party of J.J. Rawlings, but it has gone beyond him,” he said. “These are realities every political tradition must go through.”
Dr. Tiah Mahama concluded by urging founding members of political parties to recognize and accept these transitions as part of democratic growth rather than resist them.
“It is a systemic shift,” he said. “And those who laid the foundation stones must come to terms with that reality.”
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Barbara Yeboah
