Stephen Ayesu Ntim has officially taken a break as the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), following a deeply concerning health advisory from his family.
In a letter dated June 16, Mr. Ntim’s family, including MP Adelaide Ntim and Kingsley Oteng, requested that he be granted a temporary leave of absence from all political activities. The letter cited “cognitive dissonance and mental incapacitation” as critical reasons for the urgent call. The family strongly advised that Mr. Ntim refrains from participating in all scheduled high-level leadership meetings, warning that continued political engagement could further deteriorate his condition.
The letter acknowledged Mr. Ntim’s unwavering loyalty and dedication to the NPP over the years but emphasized that his well-being must now take precedence.
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After nearly two decades of political setbacks, Stephen Ntim finally secured the chairmanship of the ruling party in 2022 on his fifth attempt. His political journey was marked by four failed bids in 2005, 2010, 2014, and 2018, losing narrowly to stalwarts such as Mac Manu, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Paul Afoko, and Freddie Blay. In 2022, he triumphed with 4,014 votes, outpacing his closest contender, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, by an overwhelming 3,004 votes.
Following his election, Ntim promised to lead the party to victory in the 2024 general elections. “The new national executives will work assiduously for the party to win Election 2024,” he declared in the presence of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
However, under his stewardship, the NPP suffered its most devastating electoral defeat, losing both the presidency and its parliamentary majority in 2024. In response, the party formed a 12-member committee to investigate the root causes of the loss.
Under the party’s constitution, First Vice Chairman Danquah Smith Buttey will step in as acting National Chairman until further notice.