A leading activist of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region, J.K. Owusu-Boakye, popularly known as General Abito, has urged delegates of the party to elect leaders with proven track records of unity, competence and commitment at the upcoming Ashanti Regional Delegates Conference.
Mr. Owusu-Boakye, who is a former political aide to the late Dr. Akoto Osei, former Member of Parliament for Old Tafo and Minister of State, and now a Patron of the NPP in the Offinso South Constituency, believes the choice of regional executives will be critical to the party’s efforts to rebuild and recapture power in the 2028 general elections.
According to him, the party must elect officers who can bridge internal divisions, reconnect with disgruntled and apathetic members, and mobilise the entire party base ahead of the next electoral contest.
“The NPP Ashanti Regional Delegates Conference must elect officers with proven qualities to unite the party and bring all apathetic members as a block to recapture power in 2028,” he stated.
Mr. Owusu-Boakye made the remarks during a visit by aspiring Ashanti Regional Organiser, Dennis Kwakwa, to party executives and supporters in the Offinso South Constituency, where Mr. Kwakwa formally announced his campaign for the organisational position.
He described Mr. Kwakwa as a tested and experienced party activist whose background in youth mobilisation, communication and grassroots organisation positions him to deliver victory for the party.
“I have known Dennis Kwakwa from his party activism in Mampong as Youth Organiser, as Regional Youth Organiser and Communication Director, and during our formation of the First Time Voters Project under the umbrella of Youth Rights Advocacy NGO, which later transformed into FSHS (Nana Mma), an organisation of senior high school students,” he said.
According to him, the initiative played a significant role in mobilising first-time voters for the NPP in the 2016 and 2020 general elections.
“I can vouch for my good friend Dennis Kwakwa and he won’t disappoint the regional party in the quest to recapture power in 2028 with the massive 74%,” he added.
Mr. Owusu-Boakye described Mr. Kwakwa as an affable, humble, resilient and results-oriented political organiser, qualities he said are necessary for anyone seeking to lead the party’s organisational structures.
“He is a tried and tested political activist who transcends the nuances in politics and can therefore deliver the goods,” he stated.
On the position of Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr. Owusu-Boakye endorsed former NPP Regional Chairman for the region, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, describing him as a unifier with a strong desire to bring cohesion to the party.
He said COKA’s leadership record and ability to work across different interests within the party make him suitable for the role.
“We started television and radio programmes with Mr. Kwaku Appiah when he was Vice Chairman at Kwabre East, and through thick and thin, Kwabre West was created and he became Chairman, producing two ministers on record,” he noted.
He referenced the contributions of the late Hon. Owusu-Ansah, former Member of Parliament and Ashanti Regional Minister, as well as Hon. Owuraku Aidoo, former MP and Deputy Energy Minister, as examples of the leadership outcomes under COKA’s tenure.
Mr. Owusu-Boakye further praised Odeneho Kwaku Appiah for remaining neutral during the NPP’s presidential primaries, which resulted in the election of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the party’s flagbearer for the 2024 election.
According to him, such neutrality demonstrates the qualities required of a leader who can unite the party and promote a common purpose.
“He has the greatest and unflinching desire to see the NPP in Ashanti united without any personality idiosyncrasies. This is the hallmark of a leader who is ready to bring unity of purpose to a fragmented party in our stronghold,” he said.
Mr. Owusu-Boakye expressed confidence in the wisdom of NPP delegates, saying they have consistently demonstrated the ability to select experienced, dedicated and hardworking leaders to steer the affairs of the party.
He urged delegates to consider competence, commitment and the ability to unite the party as the key qualities needed in selecting the next crop of regional executives.
He concluded by reaffirming his belief in the NPP’s ideological values, describing the party as one committed to conservatism, the rule of law, strong state institutions and progressive governance in Ghana and beyond.
