Policy think tank boss Franklin Cudjoe has launched a scathing critique of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) current leadership, warning that the party is veering off course and risks political irrelevance if it fails to initiate urgent reforms.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, July 19, the President of IMANI Africa expressed deep concern about what he described as a decline in leadership quality within the NPP. He pointed to a growing disconnect between the current crop of leaders and the party’s seasoned statesmen — most notably former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who recently revealed he has been sidelined from party affairs.
“It is shocking that voices of wisdom like President Kufuor’s are being ignored,” Cudjoe said. “Instead, the party seems to be run by younger, inexperienced individuals who have no clear sense of direction.”
He lamented what he sees as an erosion of the party’s internal democratic culture, accusing the leadership of disregarding valuable counsel and exhibiting poor strategic judgment. As a case in point, he cited the NPP’s controversial decision not to participate in the Ablekuma North by-election.
“That decision was a political miscalculation,” Cudjoe argued. “They had every chance of winning, and yet they opted out. It was one of the most senseless decisions a party preparing for national elections could make.”
Cudjoe warned that if the NPP continues on its current trajectory, it will be poorly positioned to mount a serious challenge in the 2028 general elections. He stressed that the ongoing internal party conference must be more than symbolic — it must serve as a launchpad for bold structural reforms.
“I don’t see the organization or strategic thinking necessary to win in 2028,” he said. “They need to pause, reflect, and rebuild if they want to be a credible alternative to the NDC. As it stands, nothing the party has said shows they’ve understood the gravity of their situation.”
Cudjoe’s remarks come at a time of deep introspection within the NPP, as party members gather to chart a new path forward amid growing criticism from both within and outside their ranks.
