Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Divine Otoo Agorhom, has accepted full responsibility for the party’s poor showing in the Greater Accra Region during the 2024 general elections.
In what appears to be part of the party’s broader internal reckoning, he acknowledged that leadership comes with accountability, even when outcomes are unfavourable.
Addressing concerns about the party’s dwindling electoral support in the region, Mr. Agorhom said the results were disappointing but must be understood within a larger political context. He did not dismiss the poor performance but challenged the narrative that solely pinned the loss on his leadership.
“That statement is piercing enough, but you can say that is not the situation, because what did I do? I have been to elections and have won elections when I’m contesting. I take the responsibility for my region because you’re the leader if it didn’t go well”
Divine Otoo Agorhom, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP
He maintained that it is typical for leaders to be celebrated when things go well and blamed when results are poor. However, he was quick to add that leadership effectiveness should not be evaluated based solely on one metric.
“Unless we’re winning in other regions and not the Greater Accra Region. The election didn’t work for us, that is all” he added.
The 2024 general election saw the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) make sweeping gains across the Greater Accra Region, winning 28 parliamentary seats, while the NPP secured only five.
With one seat, Ablekuma North, initially pending, the NDC’s control in the region was evident. The NDC eventually captured that seat as well in a recent rerun, bringing their total in the region to 29 out of the possible 34.
Mr. Agorhom’s remarks come amid intensified internal discussions within the NPP and mounting calls for self-assessment following the party’s national electoral defeat. In a region historically seen as electorally competitive, the shift toward the NDC signalled serious structural and strategic weaknesses that many in the NPP now feel must be addressed.
Possible Transition to National Role
Mr. Agorhom also revealed that he will not be seeking re-election as Greater Accra Regional Chairman, a position he has held for two terms.
However, he has not ruled out taking up a new position within the party. According to him, discussions are ongoing about his potential move to national leadership, particularly as a National Vice Chairman.
“I have not firmed up such a decision. Political positions such as this, you hear people making suggestions like, with your worth of experience, why don’t you support the national party? I will say that it is still under consideration”
Divine Otoo Agorhom, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP
While he remained noncommittal, Mr. Agorhom suggested that a firm decision on his political future could be made in the near future. “Within the next month or two,” he said, hinting at a timeline.
As the NPP navigates its internal restructuring process after the 2024 loss, voices like Mr. Agorhom’s are expected to play a role in defining the party’s future strategy and direction.
His potential move to the national executive level would come at a time when the party is actively seeking seasoned figures to help rebuild public confidence and reorient its grassroots structures.
In the meantime, the Greater Accra Region remains a focal point of electoral analysis, not only because of its population density and political importance but also due to the dramatic swing in voter sentiment that occurred under Agorhom’s watch.
Whether his leadership will be vindicated in hindsight or held as an example of party missteps will depend on how the NPP recalibrates heading into the next electoral cycle.
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