Political analyst, Dr. Samuel Afriyie, has said it would be prudent for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to make its flagbearer the leader of the party, in the interest of stronger cohesion.
Dr Afriyie, a senior lecturer at the Kumasi Technical University, made the case in an interview with William Evans-Nkum ahead of the opposition party’s national delegates conference slated for Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
He said the change would help unite the party and close ranks.
“For stronger party cohesion, especially going into elections, the flagbearer should lead the party. If you look at the NDC, that system is working for them,” he said.
He added that the national chairman could step in if the party has no flagbearer.
“There is also the question of who takes over if there is no flagbearer. The National Chairman can hold the fort until a flagbearer is elected,” he said.
Proposals up for adoption
Several proposals are expected to be deliberated and adopted at the conference, and they have been major talking points in the run-up. The most prominent is whether the presidential candidate or the national chairman should be the leader of the party.
Other proposals include:
- Restoring the President to the National Steering Committee
- Appointing additional vice chairpersons at the national, regional and constituency levels
- Appointing deputy regional and constituency communication officers
- Making the offices of first, second and third vice chairpersons distinct elective positions
- Permitting all card-bearing members to serve as delegates in presidential and parliamentary primaries
- Adding IT officers to the regional and constituency executive structures
By William Evans-Nkum
