By King Amoah
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) stands at a critical juncture.
While the party’s base remains hopeful for a return to power in the 2028 general elections, a growing wave of concern is sweeping through the Ashanti Region, the party’s traditional stronghold.
Grassroots activists and die hard supporters are sounding the alarm which is the internal conflicts of which if it is not solved rapidly can erode the party’s electoral prospects.
A Facade of Unity:
In Kumasi, the sentiment among party activists is one of the frustrations.
Many feel that the national and regional executives are performing a delicate balancing act of pretending that the party is united while the reality on the ground tells a much bleaker story.
Kwame Painstil a party activist in Asokwa did not mince words regarding the party’s current state.
The party executives spend their time to tell the world that peace and unity prevail within our ranks, Painstil noted.
But in visible terms, even a child can see the unprecedented rift that is tearing the party apart.
By ignoring these fractures, they are essentially ignoring the ticking time bomb that will eventually destroy our chances in 2028.
The Favoritism Trap:
A recurring theme in conversations with supporters is the perceived bias of the party’s leadership.
Charles Prah a well known and staunch supporter in Kumawu pointed to the leadership’s slow response to internal disputes as a major liability.
They are too slow to solve internal matters, Prah argued. Their actions often show that they are taking sides, favoring certain factions while practicing discrimination against those who speak the truth.
If you treat your own people as outcasts, how do you expect to win over the floating voters the activist asked.
Lessons from the Allan Cash Era:
For many supporters, the departure of former Trade Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen remains a painful reminder of what happens when grievances go unaddressed.
Mrs. Elizabeth Amofa from Bekwai believes that the party’s current trajectory is a repeat of past arrogance.
The departure of Alan Kyerematen was a direct result of discrimination and poor handling of internal dynamics, Amofa stated.
Because he was not properly treated, he left and took a significant portion of the base with him.
That exodus was a major factor in our 2024 performance.
If we haven’t learned from that we are doomed to repeat it.
The Kennedy Agyepong Factor:
The current tension surrounding Kennedy Agyepong has further inflamed the base.
Opoku Emmanuel a supporter from Manso draws a direct parallel between the treatment of Kyerematen and the current administration’s approach to Agyepong.
The party is repeating the same mistakes they made with Alan, Opoku observed.
Kennedy Agyepong is viewed by many as a man of truth, action and transparency.
Instead of smoking the peace pipe and resolving his grievances to ensure stability, many ‘big shots’ in the party are actively provoking him.
This does nothing but endanger the party’s future and alienate the base..
A Call for Reconciliation:
The consensus among these observers is clear: the path to 2028 is not paved through dirty politics or the marginalization of influential voices.
It requires a complete overhaul of the leadership’s approach to internal governance.
If the executives truly want the NPP to return to power, Opoku added, they must prioritize genuine reconciliation and unity over politics of hatred and discrimination.
If they fail to reorganize and continue to harbor this culture of exclusion, they should simply forget about victory in 2028.
As the NPP looks towards the future, the message from the Ashanti Region is loud and clear: victory is not a birthright it is a product of unity.
Unless the party leadership stops the internal bleeding and fosters a climate of inclusivity, the anticipated return to power may remain nothing more than a pipe dream.
