NPP’s next chance to return to power could be 2032 – Martin Kpebu

Private Legal Practitioner Martin Kpebu says the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) next opportunity to return to power could be in 2032, arguing that Ghana’s political history points to an eight-year cycle between the two major political parties.

Speaking to Isaac Addae on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Kpebu said the current political arrangement makes an NPP return in the next four years unlikely, based on the political pattern he has observed.

Kpebu said even if he becomes dissatisfied with the performance of the current administration, that would not automatically make him support the NPP or its flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in the next election.

“Worst case, if I’m not happy with them, the worst case is not to appear. That’s, I won’t go and vote. But I cannot turn around in four years and go and vote for Bawumia. I don’t know how I can support Bawumia in four years,” he said.

He maintained that, based on the political cycle he was describing, the NPP’s next opportunity to return to government would be in 2032.

“So what the argument I’m building is that if anything at all, the NPP’s chance to really return will be 2032,” he said.

Kpebu said his position also informed his response to suggestions that he would seek personal benefits from political actors, particularly those in opposition.

He questioned why he would wait several years for an opposition leader to potentially return to power when he could approach the government currently in office if he needed assistance or an opportunity.

“So why would I be waiting for the next six years when I can go and beg right now for something? I mean, do I look that foolish?” he asked.

He said it would make little sense for him to seek assistance from an opposition leader whose return to power was uncertain when he could engage the administration currently in office.

Kpebu also rejected suggestions that his political engagements are motivated by financial benefits, citing his involvement in the ORA report as an example.

He insisted that he and those who worked on the report received no payment for the exercise, including expenses such as fuel and water.

“And for the records, the ORA report, we didn’t take one cedi. One cedi, even fuel, we didn’t take. We went to work with our own fuel, water, etc. We didn’t take one cedi,” he said.

Kpebu said his willingness to engage with political actors should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that he was seeking personal benefits from them.

He stressed that if his objective were to secure an opportunity or assistance, he would engage the administration in power rather than wait several years for a possible change in government.