Story by George Yawson Vineh
Former National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Paul Awentami Afoko, has officially announced his return to active politics, declaring his intention to contest the party’s national chairmanship position after nearly a decade of suspension.
Mr. Afoko, who served as the NPP’s National Chairman in 2014, was suspended in 2015 for what the party described as conduct inconsistent with its constitution. The decision followed intense internal wrangling within the party at the time.
In a statement signed by Pan African Television, Mr. Afoko said his decision to contest the upcoming chairmanship race is in response to calls from party members urging him to help restore unity and discipline within the NPP.
He emphasized that his comeback is driven by a desire to renew the party’s founding values of democracy, transparency, and inclusiveness, adding that the NPP must rebuild stronger grassroots structures to reclaim power in the 2028 general elections.
Mr. Afoko also noted that his suspension is now a matter of the past, insisting that he remains a committed member of the New Patriotic Party, ready to contribute to its growth and stability.
Political observers believe his return could reignite old debates within the party, but also presents an opportunity for reconciliation and reform ahead of the NPP’s internal elections.
Paul Afoko’s re-entry into the chairmanship race is expected to set the stage for an intense contest, as the NPP prepares to elect new national executives to lead the party into the next election cycle.
Suspension and its context
• Afoko was suspended in 2015 by the NPP’s disciplinary committee for “conduct inconsistent with the party’s constitution”.
• The suspension occurred amid serious internal disputes over party direction and leadership.
• He challenged the suspension in court, but the judiciary upheld the party’s decision.