The political landscape of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Western Region has been redrawn, with Ignatius Kwasi Afrifa emerging as the new Regional Chairman after a commanding victory over Abdul Ganiu a former Regional Organiser.
Mr Afrifa polled 265 votes, representing more than twice his opponent’s 102, to secure the chairmanship by a striking 163-vote margin. Only one ballot was rejected.
His victory crowns a leadership contest in which delegates delivered some emphatic verdicts across the regional executive positions, signaling both continuity and change as the party prepares to rebuild its structures ahead of the 2028 elections.
The new chairman comes into office at a particularly consequential moment for the NPP in the Western Region. The party suffered substantial parliamentary losses in the 2024 elections and currently holds only two of the region’s 17 parliamentary seats, a situation that has triggered renewed calls for grassroots reorganisation and a stronger electoral strategy.
A new leadership bench
Mr Afrifa will be supported by Ignatius Asaah Mensah, who won the First Vice Chairman position with 204 votes, defeating James Obeng Jnr, a former Sekondi Takoradi NADMO officer, who obtained 161.
Mr Mensah brings considerable local-government and party experience to the new administration. He served as District Chief Executive of Mpohor and has been described in official records as having played a key role in reconciliation efforts within the party.
The Second Vice Chairman position went to Francis Abeiku Yankah, who polled 193 votes, beating Abena Kwallah with 152 and Monica Buadu with 22.
Mr Yankah is not new to public administration in the region. Records from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources identify him as the Municipal NADMO Director for Prestea Huni Valley, placing him among the region’s public-sector actors with experience in disaster management and community response.
Kwasi Bonzo returns to the regional executive table
One of the more striking outcomes is the victory of Kwasi Bonzoh as Regional Secretary, where he secured 211 votes against incumbent Okatakyie Amankwa Afrifa’s 157.
Kwasi Bonzoh is a familiar face in Western Region politics. The former Ellembelle District Chief Executive has spent years at the centre of NPP politics in the constituency and was the party’s parliamentary candidate in Ellembelle in the 2024 elections.
His return to the regional executive comes only weeks after he had campaigned for the secretaryship and publicly outlined an agenda centred on rebuilding the party from the polling-station level and reclaiming constituencies lost to the NDC. He had specifically identified Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Sekondi, Kwesimintsim, Jomoro and Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira among seats the NPP should target in 2028.
His victory is therefore likely to be closely watched as the new administration begins the difficult task of translating opposition frustration into organisational strength.
Old faces, new assignments
Amoabeng Owusu Acheampong also returns to the regional leadership structure, winning the Organiser position with 181 votes against Frederick Korankye’s 143 and Simon Amoah’s 44.
His victory is particularly notable because he previously defeated Abdul Ganiyu to become Regional Organiser in the NPP’s 2022 regional elections, polling 181 votes to Abdul Ganiyu’s 149.
The Women’s Organiser position went to Augustine Nketsiah, who polled 193 votes against Josephine Yaa Odoom’s 173.
In the youth wing, Osagyefo Atiah Kwaw made a dramatic comeback, sweeping aside three other contenders with 197 votes. Prince Kuntu-Blankson obtained 100, Boadi Augustine Minlah 67 and Frederick Kumah 4.
Mr Kwaw is a familiar name in the region’s NPP youth politics. In the 2022 regional elections, he contested the Youth Organiser position and obtained 113 votes against Benedict Addae’s 218.
This time, however, the numbers tell a very different story: 197 votes and a commanding victory.
Communication and finance
Emmanuel Essah Acquah emerged as Regional Communication Officer with an overwhelming 212 votes, leaving Issah Fuseini on 152 and David Ackah-Miezah with just 3.
The result gives Mr Acquah a strong mandate to take charge of the party’s regional messaging at a time when communication, public perception and the party’s ability to articulate its post-2024 rebuilding agenda will be crucial.
At the treasury, Nana Adjoa Appiah secured one of the night’s clearest victories, polling 262 votes against James Asiedu Kainyiah’s 160.
Ms Appiah is no stranger to the regional structure. She previously served as Assistant Secretary and was elected to that position in the 2022 regional elections with an impressive 264 votes.
Aljhaji Adam Harun Ahmed pulled 187 votes to beat the favourite Alhaji Labib Imam Ali who managed 177
By Eric Yaw Adjei
