In a fiery declaration that has sent political ripples across the Western Region, the newly elected Western Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bonzo Kwasi, has thrown down the gauntlet to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He has warned that the political landscape is about to shift dramatically.
“The NDC should watch out. We are here to energize the base,” Mr. Kwasi thundered in his victory address, moments after a stunning electoral upset that saw him dethrone the incumbent, Okatakyie Amankwa Afrifa, with a decisive 211 votes.
Mr. Kwasi did not mince words about the state of the party he has been tasked to help rebuild. He inherits a regional structure that has been battered by a 2024 electoral defeat, and he made it clear that complacency will no longer be tolerated.
“The party was not in good shape, now we have to put it in a better stead,” he stated, his voice resonant with urgency.
“It is unpardonable that a great party like ours has only two seats out of seventeen in the region. That is a challenge to us. And I’m going to work with my team to make sure that we move from two to at least eleven in 2028. That is our target,” he added.
The new Regional Secretary brings a formidable arsenal of political experience to the role. He is no stranger to the rigors of electoral combat, having contested parliamentary elections four consecutive times in Ellemebele, a marathon that has honed his grassroots mobilization skills.
Furthermore, his administrative acumen is well-proven, having previously served as the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle, where he navigated the complexities of local governance and development.
Some party members see his victory over the incumbent Okatakyie Amankwa Afrifa as a clear signal from the party’s delegates that they are hungry for a more aggressive and hands-on leadership approach.
Mr. Bonzo’s blend of bureaucratic experience from his DCE days and his persistence as a parliamentary candidate is viewed as the tonic needed to revive the party’s fortunes in a region that has increasingly become an NDC stronghold.
The target of 11 out of 17 parliamentary seats represents a seismic shift in the region’s political arithmetic. To achieve this, Mr. Kwasi will need to bridge ethnic and intra-party divides, re-engage disillusioned foot soldiers, and craft a compelling message that resonates with the youth and fishing communities that have drifted away from the NPP in recent cycles.
The ruling NDC has yet to officially respond to the challenge, but Mr. Bonzo’s opening salvo ensures that the political temperature in the Western Region is set to rise well ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By Abraham Mensah
