Former Member of Parliament for Obuasi East, Edward Ennin, says he has not yet decided whether to contest for the Ashanti Regional Chairmanship of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), despite growing calls for him to enter the race.
Mr Ennin told Kumasi Mail that he is yet to formally accept the call to contest, noting that the timeline to mount an effective campaign ahead of the July elections is too short.
“I don’t do my things like that. The elections will be held in July, which is just here, so I have not formally accepted the call to contest,” he said.
His comments follow a press conference held in Obuasi on Monday, 28 April 2026, by a group known as the “Rescue Ashanti NPP with Adansi Movement,” which publicly endorsed him for the position.
The group, representing six constituencies within the Adansi enclave, expressed concern over what it described as a decline in the party’s electoral performance in the Ashanti Region, traditionally considered a stronghold of the NPP.
It cited recent losses in constituencies such as Adansi Akrofuom, Adansi Asokwa and New Edubiase, as well as the narrow retention of the Obuasi East parliamentary seat by just 19 votes in the 2024 elections, as signs of weakening grassroots support.
According to the group, the Adansi bloc remains a key voting area capable of influencing the party’s fortunes, but its potential has not been fully utilised in recent years.
In endorsing Mr Ennin, the group described him as an experienced leader with a proven track record, highlighting his tenure as MP for Obuasi from 2004 to 2012 and later for Obuasi East. It also pointed to his ties with traditional authorities in the Asante Kingdom as an asset in rebuilding unity within the party.
The movement further argued that his leadership could help reconnect the party with longstanding members and influential figures who have become less active in recent years.
Meanwhile, Mr Ennin has indicated that any decision to contest would be driven by a desire to help reposition the party and restore its electoral dominance in the region.
The group has urged party delegates and stakeholders to support its endorsement, describing it as a strategic move aimed at unity and renewal.
So far, three candidates Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, Henry Kwabena Kokofu and Edward Ennin are being mentioned in connection with the race for the Ashanti Regional Chairmanship of the NPP.
Source : www.kumasimail.com
