Political Analyst and Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere has described the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as one that is at a crossroads and therefore will require experienced individuals at its forefront to rescue it.
Dr. Otchere emphasized that the party finds itself in the midst of many challenges, noting that it will take the right leadership, one that is vested with the know-how of the party, to help save them from these challenges.
Speaking to the issues surrounding the flagbearership contest and that of the national chairmanship contest, Dr. Otchere noted that the faces showing up to contest for very important and topmost positions in the party signal the realization that some level of experience is needed, given the critical state the party finds itself in.
“In all of this, I think that the NPP is at a crossroads. They find themselves in all manner of problems and troubles, and so they need experienced hands, as it were, to come and take over the party.”
Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere, Political Analyst and Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast
With the flagbearer contest, there is the former vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. He was the running mate to H.E. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo in four different general elections, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020, and finally contested as a presidential candidate in the 2024 general elections; his level of experience is one that cannot be swept under the carpet.
There is also Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, former Member of Parliament for Assin Central. He has also been a member of parliament for 24 whole years and also partook in the last flagbearership contest of the party in 2023.
Hon. Agyapong has also always been around the top leadership of the party for a very long period, seen as someone who is more of a financier of the party. His level of experience with the affairs of the party is one that also stands tall.
Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, who served as press secretary to former president John Agyekum Kufuor, partook in the flagbearer contest in 2007 and finally won the national general secretary contest in April 2014. He can also be said to have a lot of experience with regard to the affairs of the party.
The other candidates, Dr. Yaw Osei Odutwum, former deputy and minister for education, and Dr. Bryan Acheampong, former minister for agriculture, may not be categorized in the same category as the first three in terms of experience, factoring in longevity, but they arguably have also made a mark for themselves in the party.
When it comes to the National chairmanship position, seven individuals have so far declared to contest, including Hon. Boakye Agyarko, former minister for energy; Mr. John Boadu, former general secretary; and Mr. Bernard Antwi (Wontumi), Ashanti regional chairman.
Some more candidates in there are Hon. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, former minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Mr. Edward Boateng, former ambassador to China; Hon. Kwasi Amoako-Atta, former minister for roads and highways; and Mr. Paul Afoko, former national chairman of the party.
These individuals have also amassed various levels of experiences as they served their party and Ghana at large in their respective positions.
Dr. Otchere is of the view that whoever emerges as the flagbearer will need a certain kind of leadership that is rooted in experience and commands control.
“So, whichever way you look at it, if, for example, Mr. Kennedy Agyapong should win or Dr. Bawumia should win, they will need to get other personalities or, you know, other individuals that are very solid on the ground, that are very disciplinary, and then to ensure that they are the sticklers of the rule.”
Dr. Jonathan Asante Otchere, Political Analyst and Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast
The political analyst therefore emphasized that it will take that kind of leadership, one that is underpinned by experience and one that commands respect and control, from the flagbearer to the national executives to be able to stabilize the party and set them on the path to seek victory in the 2028 general elections.
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