Aspiring General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sylvester Tetteh, has said the party requires a stronger, more effective voice to rebuild and reclaim political power in the 2028 general election.
He said the party’s performance in the 2024 elections demonstrated that although it presented “the best presidential candidate”, its organisational machinery failed to match the strength of its flag bearer.
“We had the best of candidates among all the presidential aspirants. Of course, we had a weaker party that could not prosecute the campaign,” he stated.
Mr Tetteh made the remarks when he led a delegation of former Members of Parliament (MPs) and district chief executives to call on the party’s flag bearer and former Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, at his residence in Accra to formally inform him of his intention to contest the position of general secretary of the NPP.
Effective tool
Mr Tetteh, who is a former MP for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro, said the foremost tool of an opposition political party was not state resources but its ability to project a strong and consistent voice capable of challenging the governing party and connecting with the electorate.
Mr Tetteh said his years of service as a constituency secretary, parliamentary candidate, MP and party strategist had adequately prepared him to serve as general secretary.
He cited his involvement in national party campaigns, including serving as campaign manager for a national chairmanship candidate and travelling extensively across the country’s constituencies, saying those experiences had given him an in-depth understanding of the party’s structures.
Regional balance
One electoral strategy, Mr Tetteh argued that the NPP should prioritise was diversity and regional balance in its national leadership to maximise its electoral fortunes.
He maintained that Greater Accra remained central to the party’s chances of returning to power and called for renewed attention to the region’s political dynamics.
“I know this region so well. When given the opportunity, I will provide the voice that will not only help us in 2028 but strengthen the party for posterity,” he said.
He pledged to dedicate himself to ensuring Dr Bawumia becomes President, saying; “I will not rest until you become President.”
Dr Bawumia commended Mr Tetteh for presenting what he described as a “solid vision and background” and wished him well in the contest for the general secretary position.
He said the NPP’s ongoing internal elections were critical to building a strong party capable of winning the 2028 general election.
Describing the general secretary position as the party’s chief administrative office, he said it was encouraging to see keen competition at every level of the internal electoral process.
However, he urged all aspirants to remain united after the elections, stressing that the party’s real contest was against the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), not among themselves.
“Whatever the outcome, we’ll all come back together and go and win 2028,” Dr Bawumia said as he encouraged Mr Tetteh to continue his nationwide campaign and wished him success.
The delegation also visited the residence of the MP for Karaga and former Minister of Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, who declared his support for Mr Tetteh.
