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Political analyst and lecturer at the Kumasi Technical University, Dr. Samuel Afriyie, has issued a strong call for former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to take a back seat in the leadership affairs of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), following the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on ABC News Ghana on Thursday, Dr. Afriyie argued that findings from the just-submitted Prof. Mike Oquaye committee report place significant blame on the former president, implicating him as a contributing factor to the NPP’s electoral loss. He insisted that the time has come for new voices and fresh ideas to steer the party’s direction.
“I believe that the Former President Nana Addo should take a back seat. Maybe he also has a role to play — to go and apologise,” Dr. Afriyie emphasized.
“He has a key role, and I think he should not be part of the Thank You tour.”
His comments come in the wake of the NPP’s internal post-election review process, which saw the submission of a detailed report led by former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, to the party’s National Executive Committee. While party General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua has urged members not to leak the content of the report, Dr. Afriyie insists that a summary must be made available to the party’s rank and file.
“Based on the report, there are some changes that need to be restructured,” he stated.
“If the summary report comes out, that will be very good for the party’s future.”
The political scientist stressed that transparency is critical, especially at a time when the party’s base feels disillusioned and betrayed after the shocking loss at the polls. For him, acknowledging the concerns of the grassroots and empowering them with information from the report is essential in regaining public trust and rebuilding party unity.
Dr. Afriyie’s remarks follow growing internal calls for the party’s old guard to make way for a new era of leadership. In recent weeks, key figures and analysts have pointed fingers at decisions made during President Akufo-Addo’s final years in office, accusing his administration of alienating voters through controversial economic and political choices.
The upcoming NPP Thank You Tour, which is meant to express gratitude to supporters across the country, has also become a point of contention. Dr. Afriyie believes the former President’s involvement in the tour would send the wrong signal to the base and the wider Ghanaian electorate.
“He should not be part of the Thank You tour. If he is to join, there’s a need for him to play a key role of apology — not celebration,” he added.
As the NPP navigates its post-defeat recovery, voices like Dr. Afriyie’s underscore a deepening internal crisis — one that could shape the party’s future leadership battles and its chances in 2028.
