NPP is not putting ‘old wine in new bottles’ – Ibrahim Adjei on new executives

Resident Country Director of International Investments LLC and a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ibrahim Adjei, has rejected claims that the party’s newly elected national executives represent “old wine in new bottles”.

Mr Adjei said the return of John Boadu as National Chairman and the retention of Justin Frimpong Kodua as General Secretary should not be interpreted as a lack of new ideas within the party.

Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV's Breakfast Daily show on Monday, October 5, he argued that a strong political organisation requires a combination of experience, youthful energy and fresh ideas to remain relevant and strengthen its appeal to voters.

“Emphatically no. You know, to be a robust party or any organisation, you need a blend of experience, and you need a blend of youth, and you need a blend of new ideas that will freshen your mandate and your appeal,” he said.

John Boadu, a former General Secretary of the NPP, returned to the party’s national leadership after winning the National Chairmanship at the NPP’s National Delegates Conference in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3.

He secured 2,888 votes to defeat former Energy Minister Boakye Kyerematen Agyarko, who polled 2,408 votes, while former National Chairman Paul Afoko obtained 790 votes.

Frimpong Kodua, who defeated Boadu in the 2022 contest for the General Secretary position, retained his position with 4,486 votes in the latest election.

The new executive team, however, also includes several other figures taking up national positions for the first time, including Kojo Fosu Boadu, popularly known as Kojo Bamba, as First Vice Chairman and Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover as National Organiser.

Dennis Edward Miracles Aboagye was elected National Communications Director unopposed, while Abanga Yakubu Fuseni became National Youth Organiser and Mavis Hawa Koomson was elected National Women’s Organiser.

Mr Adjei singled out Miracles Aboagye as an example of the younger and newer faces in the party’s national leadership, describing him as one of the NPP’s finest communicators.

He also defended Mr Kodua’s retention, arguing that the General Secretary had played an important role in strengthening the party’s structures.