Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, has made a strong case for a deep internal reset of the party, outlining a new vision he says is essential for rebuilding unity, strengthening grassroots structures and restoring the party’s electoral fortunes ahead of future elections.
Mr Afoko positioned his vision around what he described as the “Three Rs”: Reunite, Restructure and Re-strengthen the party, which he believes is the pathway for the NPP to recapture political power.
Addressing constituency executives and delegates in Bolgatanga last Tuesday, June 23, 2026, as part of his campaign to return as National Chairman, he argued that the party’s decline in recent electoral performance should serve as a wake-up call, insisting that only a united and reorganised front can reverse its fortunes.
Roadmap to victory
Outlining his strategic vision, Mr Afoko said the “Three Rs” framework was designed to correct structural weaknesses and rebuild the party from the ground up.
He explained that Reunification was necessary to heal internal divisions, Restructuring was needed to rebuild party systems and Re-strengthen was essential to restore discipline, coordination and effectiveness.
He warned that without those reforms, the NPP faces further electoral setbacks.
Mr Afoko stressed that internal divisions and lingering grievances had weakened the party over time, warning that continued mistrust among members would make electoral victory impossible.
“We need to reunite this party. If we do not unite the party, we will not win power,” he told delegates, adding that personal differences must be set aside in the interest of collective survival.
According to him, the culture of blame and exclusion had created deep cracks in the party’s base, urging members to prioritise reconciliation over resentment.
“If someone offended you, forget it. If someone failed to greet you, forget it. We want power,” he said, in a blunt appeal for unity.
Grassroots mobilisation
A central pillar of Mr Afoko’s vision was a return to mobilise the grassroots, which he said remained the true foundation of political power.
He recalled his earlier leadership concept, the “New Plan for Power”, which focused on strengthening polling station structures and improving internal communication across the party.
“The people who appear on television and radio alone cannot win elections. Power comes from the grassroots,” he stated.
He explained that polling station executives, constituency officers and ordinary party members remain the most critical actors in electoral success, yet are often the least supported.
Bridging the gap
Mr Afoko further argued that one of the party’s key weaknesses had been the disconnect between leadership and grassroots supporters after elections.
He said many supporters felt abandoned when opportunities in government — such as recruitment to state agencies, development projects and public appointments — were not effectively communicated or shared.
Adams Mahama’s murder
Mr Afoko strongly denied any involvement in the murder of the party's former Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama, describing allegations linking him and his family to the incident as false and politically motivated.
"I want to state clearly that regarding the death of our late leader, Chairman Adams Mahama, I had no hand in what happened to him and neither did my family," he declared.
Mr Afoko said his family shared a long-standing relationship with that of the late Adams Mahama, making the allegations particularly painful.
"The person who signed my forms when I was leaving to work with the United Nations was Adams himself," he stated, stressing that there had never been any reason for hostility between them.
