Former Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Bin Salih Hafiz, has publicly endorsed Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko for the position of National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), arguing that the party needs a unifier and strategist to rebuild after its defeat in the 2024 general elections.
In a statement backing Mr. Agyarko’s candidacy following a courtesy call on him at his residence in Wa on Wednesday, Dr. Hafiz said the NPP’s loss of both the presidency and its parliamentary majority in December 2024 demands leadership focused on restructuring the party and restoring internal cohesion ahead of the 2028 elections.
“The NPP is at a crucial turning point,” Dr. Hafiz stated. “After losing both the presidency and its parliamentary majority in December 2024, the party needs more than just a caretaker. It needs someone who can build, unite and strategise.”
According to him, Mr. Agyarko’s longstanding involvement in the NPP, dating back to the party’s formation in 1992, places him in a strong position to lead its rebuilding efforts.
Dr. Hafiz cited Mr. Agyarko’s roles as the party’s National Campaign Manager during the 2012 elections, Policy Adviser in 2016 and later Minister for Energy under the Akufo-Addo administration as evidence of his experience and commitment to the party.
He said the former Energy Minister has demonstrated a clear understanding of the challenges that contributed to the NPP’s electoral defeat, referencing Mr. Agyarko’s assessment that: “We had a solid candidate but a weak party.”
Dr. Hafiz described the remark as an honest diagnosis of weaknesses within the party’s structures and grassroots networks, adding that rebuilding those foundations would be critical to any attempt to return to power in 2028.
The former regional minister also highlighted what he described as Mr. Agyarko’s ability to bridge divisions within the party at a time when internal tensions remain a concern.
“His message to party leaders across the country has been clear: focus on forgiveness, reconciliation and returning to the NPP’s core values of unity and respect,” Dr. Hafiz said.
He noted that Mr. Agyarko’s nationwide engagements with party executives and members have focused heavily on reconciliation and grassroots mobilisation.
Dr. Hafiz further argued that Mr. Agyarko’s professional background in international banking and public service equips him with the strategic and managerial skills needed to steer the party while in opposition.
He said the former Energy Minister’s more than two decades at the Bank of New York, where he rose to become Vice President, could help strengthen the party’s fundraising efforts, particularly among Ghanaians in the diaspora.
On party discipline, Dr. Hafiz pointed to Mr. Agyarko’s pledge to enforce accountability within the NPP, quoting him as saying: “With my ‘no-nonsense’ track record, I will instil the much-needed discipline among our rank and file.”
Dr. Hafiz also welcomed Mr. Agyarko’s commitment to work closely with former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is widely expected to seek the NPP’s presidential nomination for the 2028 elections.
“From the start, Hon. Agyarko has said that, if elected, he will fully support Alhaji Dr Bawumia’s 2028 presidential campaign,” he noted.
While acknowledging other contenders in the race, Dr. Hafiz maintained that Mr. Agyarko stands out because of what he described as his integrity, experience, national appeal and capacity to unite the party.
“I support him not because he is the loudest, but because he is the most prepared, principled and capable of leading the NPP through this important time of renewal and reorganisation,” he stated.
He consequently called on delegates and party members to elect Mr. Agyarko as National Chairman, expressing confidence that his leadership, together with a future Bawumia presidential bid, could position the NPP for a political comeback in 2028.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
