Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam-Adoagyiri and a prominent member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has remained resolute in his recent controversial remarks encouraging NPP members to defend themselves against alleged attacks by members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a wide-ranging interview, he also expressed deep shock at the NPP’s loss in the 2024 elections and formally threw his support behind Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s best bet for the 2028 presidential race.
Defending his controversial call to fight back and “beat,” Annoh-Dompreh refused to retract his statement that NPP supporters should retaliate if their NDC counterparts attack them.
According to him, his comments were not an incitement to violence but rather a call for fairness and self-defense.
“I’m not withdrawing the statement. I stand by that. I am ready to face the music, whatever it takes,” he stated emphatically.
He added that he would be willing to meet with national security officials or the police if invited, insisting that they may not be fully aware of the violent incidents affecting NPP supporters.
He accused NDC supporters of taking control of key state institutions, such as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Asante Gold, and using their positions to intimidate and harass NPP members.
“This is nothing wrong to say that if you find an NDC person attacking an NPP person, help the NPP person to attack the NDC. Peace cannot be at our expense
Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri
Although he maintained that he does not support violence, he argued that the continuous attacks on NPP supporters had forced him to make the statement.
“I don’t subscribe to violence for violence, but I believe in encouraging my party people to be strong. They’re beating them here and there. They’re burning party paraphernalia. They’re burning electoral materials. They’re beating our people. We should just be quiet?”
Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri
NPP’s Election Loss and Mahama’s Return
Shifting the focus to the outcome of the 2024 general elections, Annoh-Dompreh admitted that the NPP’s defeat was unexpected. He acknowledged that although some party insiders had predicted challenges, no one foresaw the magnitude of the loss.
“It was a big shock. We never saw it. If there is anybody in our party, in our tradition, who says that this was seen ahead of time, well, that’s them,” he remarked.
He also conceded that some party members had been arrogant and distant from the grassroots, which may have contributed to voter dissatisfaction.
“I think Ghanaians just got angry with us. Yes. I must be honest. I think Ghanaians got angry and they punished us for it” he admitted. “We never thought the depth of anger was this deep.”
A significant factor in the loss, he noted, was voter apathy in NPP strongholds.
“In my area, for instance, my strongholds, my people didn’t turn out to vote. Close to about 30,000 people didn’t vote in my constituency. That’s why I was struggling”
Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri
Annoh-Dompreh expressed disbelief regarding former President John Mahama’s return to power, saying he never thought Mahama would win another presidential term.
He explained, “From what I was seeing in the country and the feedback I was getting, people said that, well, for what he did and what we have known him for, it’s not the risk we want to take.”
However, he admitted that the results forced him to rethink his stance.
“You should never say never. I’m eating my humble pie because of the margin with which he won. I realized that God can do anything,” he conceded.
Endorsing Dr. Bawumia for the 2028 Presidential Race
Despite the loss, Annoh-Dompreh remains focused on the NPP’s future and has thrown his full support behind Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the 2028 presidential race. When asked to choose between Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong, he made his stance clear.
“I’ll support Dr. Bawumia any day. Yes. I respect Kennedy, he’s a good man, he’s a true blue party person, but I think it will be most unfair for us to jettison Dr. Bawumia”
Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri
He justified his support by referencing the NPP’s tradition of allowing leaders who previously contested and lost to make another attempt.
“In our party tradition, nobody has won the presidency at a go” he offered. “President Akufo-Addo himself did it three times, President Kufuor did it twice, So I think it will be most unfair to Bawumia.”
Annoh-Dompreh believes that Bawumia remains the party’s best hope of reclaiming power in 2028.
“For the year 2028, if the NPP should bring somebody on board, it should be Dr. Bawumia. That’s my view,” he concluded.
Annoh-Dompreh’s comments reflect a divided but determined NPP, still reeling from its unexpected loss but already planning its comeback.
His strong defense of his remarks, his candid admission of the party’s miscalculations, and his firm endorsement of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia set the stage for an intense political battle in the years leading up to 2028.
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