“I’ve Forgiven the NPP, I Hold No Grudge, My Heart Is Clean” – Paul Afoko on His 2015 Suspension
Former NPP National Chairman says he has moved past his suspension and is returning to rebuild the party through unity, forgiveness and renewed leadership.
- Paul Afoko says he has forgiven the NPP over his 2015 suspension and holds no grudge.
- He insists his “heart is clean” as he returns to active party politics
- He calls for reconciliation to rebuild and reunite the NPP ahead of future elections.
Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, has made a passionate appeal for unity within the party, warning that internal divisions, disciplinary threats and unresolved wranglings are worsening its electoral fortunes and making a return to power more difficult.
Speaking in an interview on the Ghana Se Sen Morning Show on Lawson TV/Radio with Kwame Tanko, Afoko said he is fully aware that reclaiming power will not be easy due to internal challenges and the strain on party resources, but insisted that unity remains the only path forward.
He likened the party’s situation to a person digging a hole to escape from it.
“If you are digging a hole and you want to come out of that hole, the first thing is you stop digging that hole. If you threaten to sack people from the party, you are digging the hole more. We are not coming out,” he warned.
Afoko urged the leadership and rank-and-file members to calm tensions, stop pushing people away and instead embrace reconciliation.
He said the party must “let go of emotions and hold each other’s hands” if it hopes to recover from recent setbacks.
According to him, the NPP’s declining performance is evident in recent election results, noting that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has increased its parliamentary presence in the Ashanti Region to seven seats, while traditional strongholds in the north have also been lost, including Yendi—described as the party’s “Bantama of the Northern Region.”
“These are the reasons why I have decided to contest again,” he said.
Afoko also disclosed that he has forgiven the NPP for his 2015 suspension as National Chairman, insisting he holds no grudges and that his heart is now “clean” as he seeks to return to leadership.
He further revealed that he has engaged several key figures in the party ahead of his decision. These include visits to Vice President and flagbearer Mahamudu Bawumia, former President Nana Akufo-Addo, and former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
According to him, both Akufo-Addo and Kufuor have expressed goodwill, with Akufo-Addo assuring him of support should he win the chairmanship, while Kufuor has also given his blessing.
He added that he also visited Kennedy Agyapong, noting that further discussions would follow after the internal contest.
Kennedy Agyapong, he said, remains part of his broader consultations within the party.
Afoko also expressed shock over reports that some party supporters displayed banners during a recent NEC meeting bearing the inscription “Ken must go,” describing it as worrying and unnecessary for party unity.
He reiterated that his mission is not driven by resentment but by concern over the party’s declining fortunes and the need to restore cohesion.
“Let go of emotions and hold each other’s hands,” he said, stressing that only unity can rescue the NPP from its current challenges and position it to recapture power.
