Let us acclaim Bokye Agyarko as National Chairman of the NPP

Formally speaking, I have been a proud adherent of the UP tradition since 1978, when I served as a student activist at KNUST under the inspiring leadership of party stalwarts such as Atiemo, Victor Asihene, and Dr Richard Anane (later Minister of Health under President Kufuor).

Because of this long-standing association with our party, I understand that the suggestion to acclaim Boakye Agyarko as our next National Chairman may be met with skepticism.

After all, the UP tradition has always prided itself on its deeply rooted culture of democratic competition. Indeed, any proposal that appears to circumvent this core value may not be readily accepted.

However, my dear Elephant family, we must also recognize that this ideal is most relevant under normal circumstances. These, however, are not normal times.

The current state of our beloved party is nothing short of alarming. The legacy left by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, unfortunately, is one of internal disunity, leadership paralysis, and a weakened party machinery — all compounded by public disillusionment due to perceived economic mismanagement and governance lapses.

Under such extraordinary circumstances, we must act with extraordinary wisdom. If the status quo persists, the possibility of the UP tradition regaining political power will continue to fade.

What the NPP needs now is not just a leader, but a rooted steward — someone who embodies the ethos of our tradition and possesses both the experience and conviction to bring the party back from the brink.

It is here that Hon. Boakye Agyarko stands out. Let us not forget that politics is not only about elections and public office. It is fundamentally about continuity — the continuity of values, principles, and the vision that governance should be in service to the people.

In this light, Boakye Agyarko’s political journey serves as a testament to unwavering commitment. Whether in academia, in exile, or across borders, he has remained steadfastly loyal to the ideals of the UP tradition.

His pedigree is beyond question. His father, Mr. Agyarko, was a founding member of the National Liberation Movement (NLM), the ideological precursor of today’s NPP.

This legacy of service and sacrifice runs deep in the Agyarko family.

Many of us from the university era remember Boakye Agyarko’s early activism. His

confrontations with the Rawlings military regime were courageous and costly — so much so that he was forced into exile in the United States.

Fewer still are aware of the assassination attempt he survived — shot in the stomach and rushed to the 37 Military Hospital. This story, as relayed to me years later by a Ghanaian medical doctor in South Africa who treated him that fateful night, is just one chapter in a life defined by resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering conviction.

Given the grave realities facing our party, the time has come to place principle above procedure and unity above division. I urge all delegates, elders, and faithful members of the NPP to look beyond personalities and politics as usual.

Let us acclaim Boakye Agyarko not merely as a candidate, but as the right man for this moment. The UP tradition has faced storms before, and we have always emerged stronger.

With the right leadership, grounded in our foundational values, we will do so again.