Through the Storm, He Stood: Why the NPP Needs Kodua for 2028

The NPP faced its toughest elections in 2020 and 2024. From 2018 onward, the party and government believed they were on track to transform Ghana’s economy. That optimism was rooted in early success, most notably the introduction of Free SHS in 2017, one of the most ambitious social intervention programs in Ghana’s history. For millions of Ghanaian families, especially those from low-income and middle-class homes, Free SHS wasn’t just a policy; it was a lifeline. It opened the doors of education to children who might never have had the opportunity to step into a secondary school classroom.

However, 2019 brought the pandemic, which upended the global economy. COVID-19 didn’t just hurt Ghana; it hit the NPP hard. Economic gains faltered, and growth projections collapsed. Politically, the party's grip slipped. The 2020 elections exposed cracks: a reduced majority in Parliament and a vote margin that fell sharply from one million in 2016 to just over 500,000. The NPP was forced to fight on two fronts, managing national recovery while resisting a resurgent NDC, whose propaganda and pressure mounted.

By 2024, internal tensions had worsened. The presidential primaries became a battleground. Alan Kyerematen broke ranks to form the Yellow Butterfly Party. Ken Agyapong, Bawumia’s main rival, publicly tore into the party with relentless ambition. The result was a fractured front, simmering rivalries, and a defeat that felt inevitable. Behind the scenes, party executives were grappling with deep divisions and unresolved internal issues.

Yet, in the middle of that storm stood one man: Justin Frimpong Kodua, the General Secretary. Young, tested, and unshaken. While many pointed fingers after the 2024 loss, it would be wrong to place the blame on Kodua. In fact, he was among the few who held the line. Through chaos and crisis, he stayed composed. He didn’t pick sides. He didn’t get drawn into scandals. Despite the party’s free fall, his conduct remained consistently steady and principled. That counts for something.

Kodua may not have been perfect. No one is. But he was present. He was resilient. And he carried himself with integrity at a time when the party could have easily collapsed under its internal troubles. Some say he was the NPP’s most unfortunate General Secretary, young yet forced to steer the NPP through its most turbulent chapter. But maybe that’s precisely why he’s the right person for the future. He’s learned the hard way. He’s seen the cracks up close. And now he holds insights and experience that could be vital for 2028.

If the party is serious about bouncing back, keeping Kodua is not just wise—it’s a strategic move. Writing him off as part of the problem would be a mistake. In truth, he’s one of the few constants in an era of uncertainty*. And in a party searching for renewal, that kind of steadiness is gold.

It’s time for the NPP to recognize the value of this young leader, not just for surviving difficult moments but for the potential he holds in calmer ones. Give Kodua the space, support, and the second term he’s earned. If 2024 was about lessons, then 2028 should be about leadership. In that story, Kodua still has a chapter to write.

Isaac Ofori
Tutor, Winneba Senior High School.

Social Activist and Human Rights Advocate