The Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, has criticised the New Patriotic Party’s election of Kojo Fosu Boadu, popularly known as Kojo Bamba, as First Vice Chairman, linking the decision to the party’s history with political vigilante groups. Mr Gbande argued that the choice could create questions about the political image the NPP intends to project as it prepares for the 2028 general election.
Kojo Bamba secured 3,116 votes to emerge first among the three vice chairpersons elected at the NPP’s National Delegates Conference in Kumasi on October 3, 2026. The result placed him ahead of Henry Nana Boakye and Nana Akomea, who became Second and Third Vice Chairmen respectively.
Mr Gbande’s criticism centres on Kojo Bamba’s previous association with the Delta Force, a pro-NPP vigilante group that attracted national attention in 2017 following an incident at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council. He argued that the elevation of someone associated with that history could send an unintended message about the party’s approach to political organisation and election security.
“The election projected a certain image for the party that again is contrary to the Vigilante Act that we’ve put in place. It gives credence to an Invisible Forces commander to rise to become a Vice Chairman.”
Mustapha Gbande
The Deputy Director further connected the development to the broader question of political violence, arguing that Ghana’s democratic system has moved beyond the period when parties could rely on force or intimidation to secure electoral advantage. He emphasised that electoral competition should be determined through organisation, policy and the ballot rather than the activities of individuals associated with vigilante groups.
Mr Gbande also challenged the argument that Kojo Bamba’s campaign message centred on inclusivity and grassroots representation. While acknowledging that every individual can evolve politically, he maintained that a candidate’s previous political record remains relevant when assessing the responsibilities attached to a senior party position.
For the NDC official, the significance of the election goes beyond Kojo Bamba personally and touches on the institutional direction of the NPP. He argued that placing a figure with a history associated with political vigilantism within the party’s national executive could influence how the NPP is perceived as it develops its strategy for the next general election.
He nevertheless clarified that his position should not be interpreted as questioning Kojo Bamba’s personal worth or denying him the opportunity to serve. Instead, Mr Gbande focused on the political symbolism of the decision and its implications for Ghana’s continuing efforts to discourage electoral violence.
NPP Leadership Changes Signal Shift In Party Organisation
The Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande, also interpreted the New Patriotic Party’s new executive composition as an indication of how delegates want the party to organise itself ahead of the 2028 general election. He highlighted the selection of experienced operatives and grassroots figures while arguing that the results provide useful insight into the priorities of the NPP membership.
The party elected former General Secretary John Boadu as National Chairman with 2,888 votes, while Justin Frimpong Kodua retained the General Secretary position with 4,486 votes. Kojo Fosu Boadu, Henry Nana Boakye and Nana Akomea also emerged as the First, Second and Third Vice Chairmen respectively.
Mr Gbande described the choice of John Boadu as significant because of his experience within the party machinery and his understanding of political organisation. He suggested that the National Chairman’s position requires someone capable of coordinating the party’s structures and exercising authority across its various levels.
The Deputy Director also interpreted Justin Kodua’s retention as a rejection of attempts to place responsibility for the NPP’s previous electoral defeat solely on the General Secretary. He argued that the result demonstrated how delegates assessed the performance and contribution of party officials differently from some of the arguments advanced by senior figures.
“There was a clear rejection of hypocrisy within the NPP. The party says hell no, they actually gave him more than 80% endorsement and control over the party.”
Mustapha Gbande
Turning to other positions, Mr Gbande noted the emergence of Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover as National Organiser and Abanga Yakubu Fusani as National Youth Organiser. He viewed the new team as a combination of figures with different political experiences who will now have to coordinate their responsibilities as part of a single national structure.
The Deputy Director further pointed to the rejection of some candidates who had experienced tensions with the party’s organisational structures. He argued that the results demonstrated that delegates were considering the ability of individuals to contribute to party cohesion when determining who should occupy national positions.
Mr Gbande contrasted this with the NDC’s current organisational structure, arguing that his party’s executives have maintained a system extending from the branches to the national level. He reiterated that electoral success will ultimately depend on how political parties conduct themselves while in government and how effectively their structures respond to the demands of national politics.
