By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Senior New Patriotic Party (NPP) figure Boakye Agyarko has called for immediate and strategic reforms to restore the party’s unity and vision in the wake of its performance in the 2024 elections.
Agyarko emphasized the need for deliberate and well-considered measures to address internal divisions and strengthen the party’s foundations for the future.
Dubbed “Taking Our Party Back – Step One”, the advocacy campaign is aimed at reclaiming the leadership and direction of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Agyarko criticised the current party leadership, attributing the NPP’s challenges to their actions and inactions, which he says have brought the party to its lowest point. The campaign, in his view, seeks to restore accountability and reinvigorate the party’s structure.
The NPP suffered a humiliating defeat at the just-ended presidential and parliamentary elections organised by the Electoral Commission of Ghana. The defeat has been attributed to the poor leadership style on the part of the current leadership by party loyalists, while others believe voter apathy led to the party’s 2024 election defeat.
In a statement, Boakye Agyarko addressed internal concerns over the state of the NPP, warning against knee-jerk reactions and highlighting lessons from the party’s history.
He stressed that while the calls for reform are valid, the party must carefully organise and structure its response to prevent a repeat of past mistakes.
According to him, disjointed and hurried actions could lead to further chaos rather than rebuilding the party’s strength.
The former Energy Minister referenced a similar period in 2009 when internal reforms were initiated under the guise of change but instead consolidated power in the hands of one individual, creating a situation he likened to “Caesar.” Agyarko cautioned that the current calls for reform must avoid such pitfalls, which ultimately weakened the collective strength of the NPP.
“The current clamour, in my mind, seeks to undo the effects of ‘Caesar’ on the fortunes of our party. In so doing, we must proceed with care and diligence in our search for restoration and healing so that we do not end up repeating the mistakes of the past,” Agyarko stated.
Agyarko outlined two central issues that, in his view, must guide the party’s reform agenda:
1. Clarity on Leadership:
Mr. Agyarko in his strongly worded statement underscored the need for clear, thoughtful leadership in reforming the NPP. While acknowledging the desire to reclaim the party, he warned against placing “total trust and confidence” in a single leader. He criticised past instances where individuals seized control of the party and treated it as personal property, sidelining other members.
“We must strive to avoid the situation where we repose total trust and confidence in one man who will then seize the party and treat it as if it were his personal property and the rest of us as his minions to be tread underfoot,” he asserted.
2. Reimagining Political Organisation:
Agyarko called for the NPP to define the form of political organisation it wishes to pursue. He advocated for a party built on like-minded individuals working towards national development, rather than one hijacked by a “cabal” seeking personal enrichment. He warned against organisations that succumb to “cultic” leadership, where decisions are dictated by individual whims instead of democratic principles.
“We must ensure that our efforts this time round create a party of like-minded men and women in pursuit of building a nation for the benefits of all, rather than an organisation hijacked by a cabal to transfer public wealth into private pockets,” he cautioned.
