An aspiring for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairmanship, Paul Afoko, has said the party faces a rare opportunity to reclaim the presidency in the 2028 election.

Mr. Afoko told regional executives, patrons and elders in the Volta, Oti and Eastern Regions that a recurring contender who has appeared on Ghana’s ballot paper in past elections will not stand in 2028, creating an opening for the NPP to intensively promote its flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

He described Dr Bawumia as a formidable candidate poised to win.

“Voters already know him, he’s battle-tested and ready to win,” he said.

Afoko argued that, as in 2016 when the party recovered power from an incumbent administration, the NPP can repeat that achievement provided it presents a united front and runs a disciplined campaign.

He warned that success is conditional on unity and focus, saying internal divisions or emotional disputes would undermine the party’s prospects.

“As for unity, it is not negotiable. You can’t sit here and look at the lady sitting next to you and say I don’t like her so we can’t work together. We are working together for power, and if we let emotions get in the way, we lose.

"Those of you who are old enough to remember Muhammad Ali the boxer, he is in the ring with you, he’s talking and calling you names then you get emotional and he takes advantage. Emotions won’t give us power. I didn’t get anything so I won’t support; no, let that go because it is in the past,” he said.

Promoting his 3R agenda, Reunite, Rebuild and Recapture Power, Mr. Afoko urged the party to adopt a clear, coherent message to restore public confidence.

He said Dr Bawumia is the right candidate to secure victory in 2028.

“For years I chose to work quietly behind the scenes, supporting the NPP in private,” Afoko added. “But recent developments have compelled me to step forward. We need to get our party back into winning ways, and that starts with unity of purpose.”

He portrayed the months ahead as a test of whether NPP politics will mature beyond recurring blame games and expressed optimism that party supporters would rally behind the common goal of electing Dr Bawumia as Ghana’s next president.