The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Western Region has elected former Amenfi West parliamentary candidate, Ignatius Kwesi Afrifa, as its new Regional Chairman, entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the party’s rebuilding efforts following its significant electoral setbacks in the 2024 general elections.
Mr Afrifa secured a decisive victory during the party’s regional executive elections held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Agona-Nkwanta in the Ahanta West Constituency. He polled 265 votes, representing 72.2 per cent of the valid votes cast, comfortably defeating his closest challenger, Abdul Ganiyu Mohammed, who obtained 102 votes.
The election attracted delegates from all 17 constituencies across the Western Region and formed part of the NPP’s nationwide reorganisation exercise aimed at strengthening its structures ahead of the 2028 general elections. Party officials and supporters described the outcome as a significant step in the NPP’s efforts to reposition itself in a region that was once considered one of its strongholds but experienced a dramatic electoral reversal during the last national polls.
Alongside Mr Afrifa’s election, delegates also chose a new team of regional executives to steer the affairs of the party over the next four years. Ignatius Asaah Mensah was elected First Vice Chairman, while Francis Abeiku Yankah emerged as Second Vice Chairman. Other executives elected include Kwasi Bonzoh as Regional Secretary, Lawrence Kojo Appiah Takyi as Deputy Secretary, Amoabeng Owusu Acheampong as Regional Organiser, Augustina Nketsiah as Women’s Organiser, Osagyefo Atiah Kwaw as Youth Organiser, Alhaji Adam Harun Ahmed as Nasara Coordinator, Emmanuel Essah Acquah as Communications Officer and Nana Adjoa Appiah as Treasurer.
The election results were met with celebrations from supporters of the newly elected chairman, who expressed confidence in his ability to unite the party and restore its electoral fortunes in the region. Speaking shortly after the declaration of results, a member of Mr Afrifa’s campaign team, Akpene Darko-Cobbina, expressed gratitude to party delegates and key supporters who contributed to the campaign’s success.
He thanked God for the victory and acknowledged the support of several party stalwarts, including George Mireku Duker, former Member of Parliament for Tarkwa and former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. He also recognised the role played by Benedict Addae, a former Western Regional Youth Organiser who served as campaign manager for the Afrifa campaign.
According to Mr Darko-Cobbina, the overwhelming endorsement received by Mr Afrifa reflected delegates’ confidence in his leadership abilities and his vision for rebuilding the party in the region. He argued that the new chairman possesses the experience, commitment and strategic direction required to help the NPP regain its political dominance in the Western Region.
“Mr Afrifa has what it takes to make the Western Region an NPP stronghold once again,” he said, adding that the chairman’s election marked the beginning of a broader effort to revive the party’s fortunes.
“The rescue mission began today,” he declared.
The task facing the new regional chairman is widely viewed as one of the most challenging within the party’s current organisational structure. Historically, the Western Region has been regarded as one of the NPP’s key electoral battlegrounds. Prior to the 2024 general elections, representation in the region was relatively balanced between the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with the NPP holding nine parliamentary seats and the NDC controlling eight.
However, the political landscape changed dramatically during the 2024 elections when the NDC captured 15 of the region’s 17 parliamentary seats, leaving the NPP with only two constituencies. The scale of the defeat has prompted calls within the party for extensive reforms, stronger grassroots engagement and renewed efforts to reconnect with voters across the region.
Political observers believe that reversing those losses will require sustained organisational work, effective mobilisation and a unified regional leadership capable of rebuilding confidence among party supporters. For Mr Afrifa and his newly elected team, the immediate challenge will be to strengthen constituency structures, improve internal cohesion and develop strategies aimed at expanding the party’s appeal ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The regional elections also reflect a broader effort by the NPP to reorganise its leadership nationwide following the 2024 elections. Across the country, delegates have been electing new regional executives, with some incumbent leaders retaining their positions while others have been replaced. The outcome in the Western Region stands out as one of the notable leadership changes emerging from the exercise, signalling delegates’ desire for a fresh approach as the party prepares for future contests.
Attention within the NPP is now expected to shift to the party’s national executive elections scheduled for October 3, 2026. The national polls will represent the final phase of the party’s ongoing restructuring process and are expected to shape the direction of the NPP as it begins preparations for the 2028 general elections.
With a new leadership team now in place in the Western Region, party supporters hope the organisation can rebuild its grassroots base, recover lost parliamentary seats and restore the region’s status as a major source of electoral support. For Ignatius Kwesi Afrifa, the mandate from delegates is clear: unite the party, strengthen its structures and lead the effort to reclaim the political ground lost in 2024.
Philbert Amiba Ayuusah