Infighting Is Our Enemy, Not One Person: Afoko Declares NPP Chairmanship Bid

In a significant political development that is set to reshape the internal dynamics of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Party’s former National Chairman, Awentami Paul Afoko, has formally declared his intention to contest for the position of National Chairman.

The declaration, made at a widely attended press conference in Accra on Tuesday July 14, 2026, marks his return to the frontline of party leadership with a clarion call for internal reconciliation and structural reorganization, centered on the principle that “Infighting is our enemy, not one person.”

Addressing a gathering of party elders, executives, parliamentary caucus members, and media representatives, Afoko framed his bid not as a personal ambition but as a duty borne out of extensive consultations across all sixteen regions of Ghana.

Paul Afoko’s campaign is anchored on what he describes as a practical agenda of the “3 Rs”: Reunite, Rebuild, and Recapture power. He emphasized that the party stands at a “defining moment” and must move away from the destructive factionalism that has characterized its recent history.

“Today, I stand before you with humility, gratitude, renewed conviction, and a deep sense of responsibility to the New Patriotic Party and to the Republic of Ghana,” Paul Afoko stated. He clarified that his recent travels across the nation were not campaign activities but “consultation, listening, reflection, and reconciliation.”

Paul Afoko acknowledged the internal divisions that have plagued the party, citing the pain and disappointment expressed by grassroots members, women, youth, and former appointees. “The New Patriotic Party cannot win when it is divided,” he declared. “We cannot win when our internal competition becomes internal destruction.”

In a pointed critique of the prevailing internal culture, he added: “I am not coming to lead one faction against another. I am coming to help reconcile the party.”

Paul Afoko stressed that parties win power not through wishful thinking but through “strong structures, polling station work, constituency coordination, and respect for the grassroots.” He highlighted his past efforts to open and resource constituency accounts and promote discipline, asserting that this organizational focus helped the party secure victory in 2016.

“Even after my suspension, I continued to pay my dues,” Paul Afoko said, addressing his controversial exit from office. “I continued to support candidates and constituencies. I continued to believe in this party.”

Northern Factor

In a direct and candid section of his address, Paul Afoko confronted speculation regarding the geographical distribution of leadership, specifically whether the party could have both a Presidential Candidate and a National Chairman from the North of Ghana.

Asserting the NPP’s national character, Paul Afoko referenced the party’s historical roots, including the Northern Peoples Party and the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), to argue that the tradition has always drawn strength from across the country.

“The question before the NPP today should therefore not be whether a leader comes from the North, the South, the East, or the West,” he argued. “The question should be: who can unite the party? Who can reorganize the party? Who can help our Presidential Candidate win?”

He further stated: “Having a Presidential Candidate from the North East Region and a National Chairman from the Upper East Region should not be seen as a weakness. It can be a powerful statement that the NPP is truly national.”

Rebuild Trust

Paul Afoko extended specific appeals to the business community, women, and the youth, acknowledging that the NPP must regain the trust of the private sector and correct policy mistakes that caused hardship. He pledged to position the NPP as the party of enterprise and innovation, preparing Ghana for the 21st-century economy.

He concluded his address with a call for tolerance, quoting the party’s ideological forebear, Dr. K. A. Busia, who advocated for the right to dissent within the party. “Let us compete without destroying one another,” he urged.

“This is not about entitlement. It is about national service,” Paul Afoko said. “With humility, courage, and faith in God, I formally announce my intention to offer myself for the position of National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party.”