NPP Shakes Up Leadership: Regional Elections Ignite Fierce Contests and Unity Calls

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) successfully concluded its regional executive elections across Ghana on Saturday, August 15, as part of a crucial process to reorganize its structures and strengthen its grassroots base ahead of the 2028 general elections. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP's Presidential Candidate, lauded the peaceful conduct of these elections, describing them as a testament to the party's commitment to internal democracy. He emphasized the importance of unity among members, calling for a renewed energy to secure victory in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

In the Ashanti Region, a key NPP stronghold, the elections proceeded despite reports of a court injunction. Madam Rita Talata Asobayire, Chairperson of the Regional Executive Elections Committee, dismissed the alleged injunction, declaring it invalid due to the improper naming of the election committee in the court documents. She highlighted her experience as a former police officer to question the order's legal standing and confirmed that no valid court order had been served to halt the polls. To ensure law and order, over 500 police personnel were deployed to the voting center at Jubilee Park in Kumasi. With 1,020 delegates electing new leaders from 34 aspirants for 11 positions, the highly anticipated Regional Chairmanship race saw Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, emerge victorious over Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu.

The Upper West Region saw Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz, widely known as “Chairman White,” retained as Regional Chairman, securing 173 votes against his challenger Alaska B. Kanton's 86. However, the election was not without incident, as a protest erupted from some Nandom Constituency executives who challenged the eligibility of certain delegates. This disruption necessitated the intervention of about 70 police officers before voting could continue. Nandom Constituency Secretary Edmund Bangnia Aayel publicly called for an investigation by the national leadership into the alleged irregularities. Other elected executives in the Upper West Region included Majeed Liman as First Vice Chairman, Yussif Alhassan as Assistant Secretary, Philip Braimah as Second Vice Regional Chairman, Minaata Mumuni as Regional Women’s Organiser, Sadat Doodoo Yussif as Regional Organiser, Mohammed Hamidu Saana as a Regional Executive, and Dr Tanko Dauda and Alhassan Suleiman who both retained their positions as Regional Secretary and Regional Treasurer respectively. The newly elected executives were sworn into office by NPP Director of Information Technology, Eric Nana Amankwa, with a mandate to unite the party and rebuild for the 2028 elections.

In the Northern Region, Mohammed Baantima Samba, also known as “Samba,” was re-elected as Regional Chairman with a decisive 215 votes, defeating Amadu Inusah, who garnered 122 votes. Samba’s re-election marks a continued mandate to lead the party’s regional structure towards the 2028 elections. Other key officials elected included Ayamba Yelmagli as First Vice Chairman, Dr Abdul Rahman Karim Kpala as Regional Secretary, Bediako Jeremiah as Deputy Secretary, Husseini Abubakari Saddiq as Treasurer, Hajia Suraiya Manan as Women’s Organiser, Mohammed Ibrahim as Nasara Organiser, Salifu Abdul Rashid as Organiser, Yussif Danjuma as Communication Officer, and Abdul Rahman Mahama as Second Vice Chairman. In his acceptance speech, Chairman Samba pledged to strengthen grassroots organization and foster internal unity among all factions to enhance the party's electoral prospects.

The Eastern Region also saw an incumbent retain his position, with Jeff Konadu Addo defeating Kwadwo Boateng Agyemang to secure the regional chairmanship. Konadu Addo polled 405 votes against Agyemang’s 292. Twum Barima was elected First Vice Chairman, while Tony Osei-Adjei retained the Regional Secretary position. Felix Osarfo Marfo became Deputy Regional Secretary, and Jerry Osei Poku was re-elected as Regional Organiser.

The Savannah Region witnessed a closely contested chairmanship race, with Alhaji Iddrisu Sulemana narrowly defeating Clifford Abdallah Braimah by 92 votes to 88. Other executives elected in the Savannah Region include Aboagye Kwame (First Vice Chairman), Johnson Kwame Gyinde (Second Vice Chairman), Seidu Ayuba (Secretary), Sulemana Aminu Mayoyo (Deputy Secretary with 83 votes, while Sumani Inusah secured 97 votes), Raphael Mahama Akati (Organiser, unopposed), Ali Abubakar (Treasurer), Mohammed Fatahia (Women’s Organiser), Mohammed Shiraz-Deen (Communications Officer), Alpha Omar Yakubu (Nasara Organiser), and Adam Mohammed Mansuru (Youth Organiser). These executives are tasked with leading the party’s reorganisation in the region for the upcoming elections.

In the Volta Region, Makafui Woanya secured a third term as Volta Regional NPP Chairman, defeating Joseph Homenya with 169 votes to 148. Woanya, overcoming allegations of tyranny, pledged to unite party members and intensify efforts against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region. He emphasized a strategy to primarily focus on increasing presidential votes for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in 2028, believing that the perceived failures of the Mahama-led government, such as repeated power outages (dumsor), would sway voters towards the NPP. The elected executives also include Kenneth Kodjo Ayim (1st Vice Chairman), Palous Quashie (2nd Vice Chairman), Shanbanton Moses (Regional Secretary), Titus Attamiah (Deputy Secretary), Oxford Kwasi Agboli (Regional Treasurer), Wisdom Klutsey (Regional Organiser), Lebene Gbeti (Women’s Organiser), Senyo Emmanuel Amekplenu (Youth Organiser), Abdullah Suala (Nasara Organiser), and Perry Kwashie Nuwordu (Communications Officer).

The Western North Region, however, experienced confusion at its collation center. Provisional results indicated Pious Vincent Abekah as the winner of the regional chairmanship race, leading to disagreements. The chairmanship ballot box was subsequently taken into police custody at a nearby police station in Dwenase Market for safekeeping and a potential recount, leaving the final outcome pending.

Beyond these detailed regional reports, other confirmed regional chairmen include Ignatius Kwesi Afrifa for Western Region, Kwame Baffoe Abronye for Bono Region, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye for Greater Accra Region, Joseph Kobinah Esibu for Central Region, Robert Sarfo Mensah for Ahafo Region, Alhaji Mohammed Fuseini for North East Region, Elvis Figo Awonekai for Upper East Region, Dr Frank Yirenkyi for Oti Region, and Ibrahim Bukari Baba for Bono East Region.

As the regional executive elections conclude, the NPP is now focused on leveraging this renewed leadership to foster greater unity and mobilize its members effectively. Dr. Bawumia reiterated that the regional contests were merely a preliminary phase, with the ultimate goal being a united front and renewed energy to secure victory in the 2028 presidential and parliamentary elections, beginning immediately with the work of these newly elected regional teams.