Educationist and businessman Mr Justice Afari has stepped up his campaign for the First Vice-Chairman position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ellembelle Constituency, ahead of the party’s internal elections scheduled for July 8, 2026.
He said his nationwide engagement within the constituency was aimed at sharing his vision and building support to bring renewed leadership direction to the party at the local level.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Nkroful in the Western Region, Mr Afari explained that his decision to contest was driven by the need to reposition the NPP in Ellembelle and restore cohesion among party members.
He blamed the party’s declining electoral fortunes in recent years on internal divisions, particularly between the “Bonzo” and “Attito” factions, which he said had weakened grassroots mobilisation and affected polling station coordination.
“For eight years, the party did not go well in Ellembelle due to the two camps. Polling station executives did not get any slot for employment,” he stated.
Mr Afari further argued that the lack of unity had contributed to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) retaining the parliamentary seat in the constituency for two decades under MP Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
He recalled that the NPP performed relatively better in the 2016 elections when internal cohesion improved, but said the situation worsened in 2024 due to renewed divisions and internal wrangling.
According to him, strengthening unity among party executives and supporters would be central to his leadership agenda, as he believes this is key to recapturing the seat in the 2028 general elections.
Mr Afari also expressed concern that prolonged internal disputes had limited opportunities for young party members and slowed development initiatives within the constituency.
He highlighted the poor state of roads, particularly the Esiama–Teleku-Bokazo–Aiyinasi stretch, calling for stronger leadership focus on infrastructure development.
He urged delegates and supporters to rally behind a common goal of rebuilding the party’s strength, stressing the importance of selecting capable leadership to improve the party’s electoral fortunes and socio-economic conditions in Ellembelle.
