The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) National Delegates Conference, held on Saturday, 19 July, at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra, laid bare the deep-rooted challenges facing the party, which exited office only months ago.
Words such as “cracks,” “disunity,” “unity,” “discipline”, “evil”, and “punishment” dominated discussions at the conference, the first since the NPP lost power in January 2025.
These themes echoed through the speeches of key party figures, including Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Vice-President and 2024 presidential candidate; former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin; and the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, confirming the state of the party.
The conference brought together party stalwarts from across the country as part of broader efforts to restructure and reposition the NPP ahead of the 2028 general elections. Former President Akufo-Addo, although absent, had his speech delivered on his behalf. Former President John Kufuor, who recently expressed discontent over being sidelined in party affairs, also did not attend. A promised televised address from him failed to materialize.
General Secretary Kodua Frimpong, who has come under heavy criticism for leading the party into opposition as its chief administrator, was the first to rally members, urging unity and discipline as the party seeks to re-establish itself as a credible alternative to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Addressing delegates, he expressed confidence that many Ghanaians are ready to return the NPP to power, but only if the party can present a united and responsible front.
“Ghanaians are looking for alternatives and Ghanaians want to come back to NPP,” he said, adding, “Ghanaians know that our government offered better solutions to their problems.”
However, he cautioned that public confidence in the party depends heavily on how it conducts itself in opposition, stressing that internal divisions, unnecessary conflicts, and personal agendas must be set aside in favour of collective action.
“At the end of the day, they want to vote for an opposition party that is ready for power. Therefore, actions and inactions that seek to divide us, that bring acrimony and tension, need to be relegated,” Kodua stated.
He urged party members to rise above factionalism and focus on the bigger picture, rescuing Ghanaians from what he described as the hardship and mismanagement under the current administration led by President John Dramani Mahama.
“We must show Ghanaians that we are a proper, responsible, and viable oppose
tion party that will rescue them from the misery they are going through under the watch of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama and the NDC government,” he added.
Taking his turn, Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who used the story about the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to illustrate the current state of the NPP,called on supporters to unite behind a common purpose and reconnect with the party’s grassroots as it charts a new path forward.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin emphasized the importance of unity, discipline, rebranding and a renewed sense of purpose within the party.
He said the NPP is not a broken party despite its defeat in the 2024 general election.
“It is time to choose unity over evil, and party over self. If we fight one another, we will fall together. But if we fight for one another, we shall rise together,” he said.
He stressed the need for the party to rebrand itself with results and strong character, warning that internal divisions have been costly.
“Let’s move with one voice. We’re in a season that demands sober reflection and radical unity. This is a time to rebuild, reconnect with the grassroots, re-engage with the base and reconnect with Ghanaians with a bold new vision for the future. With unity, we become a force; unity doesn’t mean uniformity, but loyalty to a shared purpose.
“We must rebrand ourselves with better results and strong character. We must rebuild together, anchored in our values that no individual is bigger than the NPP, and that belief must reflect our language, tone, strategy and posture towards one another. Internal discord, suspicions, and disunity have cost us. We made mistakes, but we’re not a broken party; we’re only a battle-tested party. We’re not a party of despair. Let’s end hate campaigns. We must reclaim the spirit of unity, discipline and shared purpose.”
Modi’s example, he noted, showed how a party could rebuild from loss through discipline, values, and a renewed connection with the grassroots.
“…we must rediscover the principles that define our founding fathers. We must rebuild, not as scattered stones, but together, brick by brick, anchored in our values.”
The Minority Leader emphasised that the Party’s enduring motto, “Development in Freedom,” should guide its next chapter, and called on aspiring leaders to seek service, not self-gain.
“Let us rise above the temptation to win at all costs and choose instead to serve at all costs,” he said.
“If we choose unity over evil, purpose over personal ambition, no force can stop us in 2028. When one of us is touched, all of us must rise. We are one family, and the strength of our family is its loyalty in crisis.”
The 2024 presidential candidate, Dr. Bawumia, who arrived at the conference venue with his wife, Samira, to an enthusiastic crowd, who chanted his name and slogans, called on party supporters to put an end to internal attacks and divisions, warning that such actions only weaken the party’s unity and electoral prospects.
The former Vice President addressed concerns about disunity within the party following its defeat in the 2024 general election.
“Too often, when we are yet to choose our leaders, indiscipline, unacceptable language, and unpardonable behaviour become the order of the day. In the end, when internal competitions are over, the attacks we have launched on ourselves become further ammunition which our opponents use against us,” he observed.
He noted that such internal conflicts negatively impacted the party during the 2024 campaign and cautioned against repeating the same mistakes.
“In the end, when internal competitions are over, the attacks we have launched on ourselves become further ammunition which our opponents use against us. We experienced it in the 2024 campaign, and we should not let it happen again a second time. This is why I call on all ‘kokrodites’ to stop internal attacks now. Let’s stop the internal attacks now,” he advised.
The conference brought together party leaders and grassroots members to discuss the party’s future direction and strategies for rebuilding ahead of the next election cycle.
The former Vice President called on the NPP leadership to enforce strict discipline within the party as it undergoes internal reform, emphasising the need for unity, humility, and accountability if the party hopes to regain public trust and regain power.
“To the leadership of the party, I ask that you be firm and crack the whip so that discipline is maintained within our ranks,” he said. “There should be discipline, humility, lessons learnt, and the pursuit of a common good for Ghana that we can become the refreshed party we desire.”
Dr. Bawumia also urged party members to let the national interest guide their actions throughout the reform process.
“In all our decisions and our actions towards the reform process, let us be guided by the rule of what is in the best interest of Ghana,” he said.
Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also urged members to remain united, embrace meaningful reforms, and empower the party’s youth as the NPP seeks to regroup after its 2024 electoral loss.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by former Chief of Staff Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, he expressed gratitude for the support he received during his presidency. He called for renewed commitment to the ideals of the NPP.
“It was a great privilege to serve in that capacity on the ticket of our ever capable New Patriotic Party,” he said. “We have, through it all, demonstrated the resilience of our rank and file against challenges and shown without doubt, as our records have proven, that it is always only under the New Patriotic government that Ghana thrives.”
Akufo-Addo acknowledged the current mood of uncertainty and disappointment within the party following its exit from power but insisted that the NPP must see the present moment as an opportunity for rebirth and growth.
“Whilst our present situation has been necessitated by circumstances we cannot ignore, I am optimistic that through dialogue, mutual understanding, strong commitment to our principles and values, we can rebuild the bridges and restore the unity that has always been our strength,” the former President said.
He stressed the importance of inclusive leadership and reconciliation, likening the party to a family that must “find ways to reconcile differences and ensure that every member has a place at the table and is up and ready to be counted.”
In a strong pitch for generational transformation, Akufo-Addo called for the party to invest in and harness the energy of its younger members.
“They are no more the future. They are the present. Their energy, innovation and resilience must be the driving forces behind our progress on this rebuilding journey,” he said, adding that initiatives such as the recently inaugurated Patriotic Institute must be leveraged to equip young people with knowledge and skills.
The former President also called for critical introspection and reform of outdated party structures, which, in his view, no longer accurately reflect the realities of Ghana’s political landscape.
“Our efforts must be all-inclusive. That is why structures or laws grounded in a bygone era, which notably do not reflect the realities and aspirations of our contemporary existence, must be opened up and critically examined to allow for proper reforms,” he said.
While reaffirming his belief in the party’s founding principles, he reminded delegates of their duty to restore public confidence.
“We must continue to stand firm and united behind the eternally forthright ideals and principles of the Dankwa-Dombo-Busia political tradition, which has proven the most suited political tradition on our Ghanaian market,” Akufo-Addo said. “Our conduct throughout this period will either reinforce the confidence of the Ghanaian people in the NPP or draw them away from us.”
He concluded with a call for unity and purpose: “Let us make room for belief to replace doubt… For it was out of nothing that our illustrious forebears found purpose in a melting pot of seemingly small forms to bear what has over the years transformed into the formidable political ticket we have in the NPP.”
