Aspiring National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, John Boadu, is embarking on a tour to visit and interact with some elders, stalwarts and stakeholders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), aimed at fostering unity and cooperation before and after the party’s upcoming Presidential Primaries in January.
A major focus of the tour is meeting the five presidential aspirants. Boadu is also scheduled to meet former President J.A. Kufuor, former President Nana Akufo-Addo, former Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Oquaye, and former NPP Chairman Freddy Blay to extend seasonal greetings and blessings.
Initial courtesy calls were paid to Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum and Kennedy Agyapong, both NPP flagbearer hopefuls, in Accra and Assin Fosu, respectively. The visits were marked by warm and cordial exchanges, reflecting a spirit of brotherhood and mutual respect, while providing an opportunity to discuss key issues affecting the party’s success and future.
Boadu emphasised that with well-organised party structures, the right leadership at all levels, and unity of purpose, the NPP is better positioned to reclaim power in the next general elections.
He urged aspirants to commit to party unity, regardless of their ambitions or the election outcomes, and to conduct themselves in line with election guidelines during the final stages of the campaign.
Dr. Adutwum, in his remarks, appreciated the visit and reiterated his commitment to working with all stakeholders, in the interest of party unity. He said observers could attest to the fact that he has demonstrated his commitment to unity by exercising self discipline while on the campaign trail.
He stated that, as a former Minister for Education and by personal conviction, access to quality education is the most valuable legacy one can leave for the next generation. Through his own resources, he established a scholarship scheme in the Bosumtwi Constituency to support brilliant but needy students. The programme has so far produced 93 engineers, with an additional 120 beneficiaries currently studying in various academic institutions worldwide, giving him pride and hope for the country’s future.
Kennedy Agyapong, in response, welcomed the gesture by aspiring NPP National Chairman John Boadu and endorsed the call for a united front to reclaim power from the ruling NDC. He noted that maintaining self-restraint and decorum is often challenged by provocative behaviour from opponents and their affiliates, making party unity difficult to sustain post-election.
He further highlighted that Ghana is endowed with abundant human and natural resources capable of driving accelerated economic growth. However, he stressed that decisive leadership remains the missing element for industrialisation. Agyapong also called for renewed efforts to address youth unemployment, describing it as a “time bomb” that poses a threat to national security.