Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, a political analyst at the University of Ghana, believes the return of Paul Afoko to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) shows the party is still attractive, unlike how some people perceive it.
Considering how long Mr. Afoko had to stay out of power after being sacked from the party as National Chairman by former President William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Dr. Zaato says he had every right not to have returned to the NPP.
According to him, Afoko, being the “big fish” amongst the disgruntled party members who fell out or were sacked by the Akufo-Addo leadership, the former National Chairman had all the arsenal to have formed his own party, but decided to return after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) granted amnesty to such members.
Speaking on the BigIssue segment on the NewDay morning show on TV3 on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Dr. Zaato said Afoko has exhibited maturity by coming back to the party despite the trauma Akufo-Addo put him and his family through.
“It also shows that the NPP is still very attractive. Here is a man who was booted out of power and stayed out of power [for so long]. The NPP came back to power, he stayed out of power very long. Here is a man with immense means and resources; he could have formed his own party, but he decided to come back.
“He is telling you something – that I belong to this party. I belong to the family, no matter what happens, I’ll stay there, and there is honour in that. There is respect in that. It means that he finds the party the most attractive of all,” he asserted.
Dr. Zaato recounted the ordeal Afoko and his family had to go through at the hands of his own party, which led to the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) freeing his brother from prosecution, saying that his decision to return to the NPP despite all that exhibits true magnanimity.
“Look at what his family went through. It is the current government that freed his brother. So he had every right to be bitter with the NPP and to be angry with it forever, but he let everything go and he’s come back to the party. That is maturity,” Zaato stated.
His comments follow Afoko’s return to the NPP to contest as National Chairman, years after being sacked by Akufo-Addo, who was then the flag bearer of the party.
Paul Afoko launched his comeback to the NPP and declared his intention to contest the national chairmanship on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 in a statement he issued.
Mr. Afoko said his decision followed “extensive reflection and encouragement from many well-meaning members, supporters, and stakeholders of the NPP.”
He described the move as a response to calls for renewed leadership rooted in the founding values and democratic ideals of the Party.
“This decision has not been taken lightly,” he stated. “It comes after careful consideration and in response to the consistent calls for renewed leadership rooted in the founding values and democratic ideals of our Party.”
Mr. Afoko noted that his commitment to the NPP had remained steadfast over the years and expressed a strong desire to contribute to the rebuilding and strengthening of the Party at what he described as a “critical juncture.”
He emphasized unity and progress as central to his political vision, adding that he has always prioritized the collective good of the Party.
“While the journey has not been without its trials, I have always chosen to prioritise the unity and progress of the NPP above all else. My focus now, as it has always been, is on the future — one where our Party stands re-energised, inclusive, and better positioned to deliver on its promise to the Ghanaian people,” he said.
Mr. Afoko further indicated plans to engage with Party members and the media in the coming weeks to share his ideas and vision for leading the NPP with integrity, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose.
The former chairman concluded his statement with a call for collective optimism: “Let us look ahead together. God bless the NPP. God bless our dear country.”
