Former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman and leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, has called on the party’s leadership to prioritize unity and uphold the party’s constitution as it reorganizes in the wake of its 2024 electoral defeat.
Popularly known as Chairman COKA, he made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the National Chairmen Conference of the NPP, held at the Longford Royal Center in Kumasi. The conference, themed “Building momentum: The role of NPP constituency chairmen in uplifting the party towards 2028 and beyond,” brought together top party leaders including the 2024 presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Agyapong.
Chairman COKA, who has been a vocal advocate for party unity, stressed that the greatest test for the NPP lies in its ability to remain cohesive despite internal differences.
“We have a great party to protect, promote, rebuild, reorganize and maintain its integrity,” he declared.
He warned against holding on to egos, fueling factionalism, and engaging in conduct that undermines party cohesion. Instead, he encouraged party executives, particularly regional chairmen, to channel their efforts toward galvanizing the grassroots and repositioning the NPP for a strong comeback in 2028.
“If we want to come to power in 2028, we must respect and work with everybody. Let’s put down all our differences, let’s put the bitterness behind us, and come together as one,” he urged.
Using a metaphor to reinforce the message of unity, Chairman COKA stated:
“We can never be the same. I may be a Muslim and you may be a Christian, I may be poor and you may be rich—but all that doesn’t matter. Deep down, we all love our party and hope to see it back in power in 2028.”
Reflecting on the party’s loss in the 2024 general elections, he called on members not to lose hope, but rather to use the experience as an opportunity to reflect, learn, and build a stronger foundation for the future.
“We have not been defeated; it’s just an experience to improve our wisdom and open our eyes. The fight is not with ourselves. So we shall move forward with God’s direction.”
Chairman COKA also emphasized the role of effective leadership and governance within the party, noting that party executives have a responsibility to uphold internal democracy, resolve conflicts, and restore the trust of party faithful.
“We must guide the executives in developing and implementing the party’s strategy; ensuring people are in line with the party’s goals and objectives to win the 2028 elections,” he said.
He urged regional chairmen to think outside the box, adopt innovative strategies, and lead with integrity—qualities he believes are key to winning back support at the regional level.
Proposal on qualifications for party executives
In his closing remarks, Chairman COKA proposed that the NPP adopt a more structured approach to selecting party executives by ensuring that aspirants at higher levels of leadership have prior experience in grassroots positions.
“One area we need to take a serious look at is the qualification to become a constituency, regional, or national officer. One should have been a polling station executive or electoral area coordinator before contesting for a constituency officer position. Also, one should have been a constituency officer before being qualified to contest for a regional position, and lastly, to contest for a national officer position, one should have been a regional officer or MP,” he explained.
Key focus areas of the conference
As the NPP looks to rebound ahead of the 2028 elections, the conference is focusing on critical areas including engaging and mobilizing constituents, fostering unity and inclusivity, and championing the party’s vision and policies.
The conference features plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and strategic planning—all aimed at producing a working document to guide the party’s efforts.
Among the issues up for discussion is the party’s decision to hold early presidential primaries in January 2026, ahead of the election of new executives.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Ivan Heathcote – Fumador
