New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairmanship aspirant Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as Asanteman COKA, has pledged to reclaim all eight parliamentary seats the party lost in the Ashanti Region during the 2024 general election.
He also promised to maximise the NPP’s votes in the region for the party’s 2028 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, if elected to lead the party in the region.
Addressing delegates in his constituency as part of his campaign for the Ashanti Regional chairmanship, COKA said the NPP needs a comprehensive rebuilding and reorganisation strategy to restore its electoral fortunes.
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The NPP, which was the governing party in the 2024 election, suffered significant losses across the country, including eight parliamentary seats in its traditional Ashanti Region stronghold.
According to COKA, his strategy would focus on rebuilding the party from the constituency level, with each constituency receiving attention based on its specific challenges.
“With a plan to help the NPP pick up its former glory, I am determined to build a constituency-by-constituency approach to help ensure that the party’s foundations remain strong,” he said.
According to him, both the party’s internal research and his own independent assessment of the 2024 defeat had helped him identify the factors responsible for the loss of some of the seats.
“The party has done some research work on why we lost the 2024 elections. I have also done independent research to know why we lost some of those seats to the NDC, and I have developed a plan to take back the seats and win more votes for our presidential candidate,” he stated.
“I can assure you that I have a well thought-out plan to win back the seats for NPP,” he added.
Focus on lost strongholds
Asanteman COKA expressed particular disappointment over the loss of seats he described as traditional NPP strongholds, citing Adansi Asokwa and Akrofuom as examples.
He argued that such constituencies should remain firmly in the NPP’s column and pledged to correct what he described as mistakes that contributed to the party’s losses.
“My team will correct all the mistakes when we take office to win back the seats,” he assured delegates.
Beyond electoral gains, the chairmanship aspirant said his agenda would include completing the development of a befitting regional office for the NPP in the Ashanti Region.
He said the work started by the current Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, would be continued.
“Of all the disciples of God, each had a different mission. Look, Chairman Wontumi and the team started something, and I will continue with that so NPP in Ashanti Region can have a befitting regional office,” he said.
Asanteman COKA pointed to his record as a former constituency chairman of Afigya Kwabre South as evidence of his ability to deliver on his promises.
“I have been a constituency chairman for Afigya Kwabre South for many years, and my record is there for all to see. I helped in getting a constituency office, so I will do the same for NPP in the Ashanti Region,” he stated.
Calls for unity behind Bawumia
The NPP aspirant also urged party members to remain united and rally behind Dr Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of the 2028 general election.
He accused the governing NDC of failing to deliver on some of its campaign promises and said the NPP would eventually hold the government accountable.
“At the appropriate time, the NPP will take on the NDC administration for deceiving Ghanaians,” he said.
He cited increases in electricity and water tariffs as examples of what he described as the government’s failure to meet the expectations of Ghanaians.
He also criticised the implementation of the government’s 24-hour economy policy, arguing that the initiative had deviated from its original promise of creating jobs through round-the-clock industrial production.
“The 24-hour economy, which was intended to create jobs by running industries in three shifts around the clock, has turned into constructing markets,” he said.
Asanteman COKA maintained that unity within the NPP would be crucial to defeating the NDC in 2028.
“What is left is for NPP to stay united and we will win 2028 elections,” he said.
Expressing confidence ahead of the NPP’s regional elections, he stressed: “I know NPP will reward my service to the party on Saturday.”