New Patriotic Party (NPP) General Secretary hopeful Eugene Boakye Antwi says delegates across the country are calling for “fresh faces and fresh leadership” as the party seeks to rebuild after its heavy defeat in the 2024 general election.
The former Subin MP said his engagements with party members across the regions had revealed a strong desire for a change in the way the NPP is organised and led ahead of the 2028 elections.
“The task before us is the party is crying out for fresh faces and fresh leadership. That’s basically the sentiment on the ground,” he said in an interview on Metro TV’s Good Afternoon Ghana on Tuesday, September 1.
Mr Boakye Antwi said delegates are not only concerned about the outcome of the party’s internal elections but are focused on rebuilding the NPP into a formidable political force capable of challenging the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2028.
“They believe that we need to present a formidable team to face our opponents, the National Democratic Congress, you know, from October onwards,” he said.
He said his tour of the regions had also shown that party executives want the NPP to resolve its internal problems and restore unity.
“Every executive that spoke to me, they just didn’t complain. They want to make sure our house is put in order and we can also win the 2028 elections if we unite and if we coalesce or rally around the flag bearer, His Excellency Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia,” he said.
Calls for a stronger party
According to him, the concerns from the grassroots go beyond individual personalities and point to deeper weaknesses in the party’s structures.
He said party members want a secretariat that is accessible, a credible membership database, structured welfare support, functioning regional offices and greater involvement in decision-making.
“The message from the ground is simple. We build a relation between the party and its members,” he said.
He argued that hardworking members should feel recognised by the party even when it is in government, rather than being remembered only when their votes are needed.
“They’re not asking for favors, they’re just asking for recognition and reward. And the party must remember its members when it’s in power, not only when it’s seeking their votes,” he said.
Fresh leadership for 2028
Mr Boakye Antwi believes the October 3 national executive election provides an opportunity for the party to reset its leadership and prepare for the next general election.
He has repeatedly linked the NPP’s 2024 performance to weaknesses within the party, arguing that the organisation failed to provide the necessary support for its presidential and parliamentary campaigns.
He said the next national executives must be capable of speaking truth to power and advising the party’s flagbearer and, eventually, the president on mistakes that should be avoided when the party returns to government.
“Now, let’s pray that the good people of the party will let common sense prevail and select or elect the right caliber of people who are going to speak true to power, who are going to advise the flag bearer and ultimately the president about things that we should avoid,” he said.
He noted that the immediate task after the national executive election will be to rebuild the party from the polling station level, improve communication with members and identify parliamentary seats that can be won in 2028.
He said the NPP cannot afford another weak organisational performance if it hopes to regain power.
The NPP will elect its national executives on October 3, 2026.
