By Gifty Boateng
The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Justin Frimpong Kodua, has boldly stated that the party is strictly an Akan party.
According to the NPP’s scribe, the party’s massive defeat in the December 2024 general election, to the then opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), was due to disunity among the Akan ethnic group.
The Akan ethnic group, known to constitute almost half of Ghana’s population, found in 8 out of 16 regions, he said did not come through for the party like it did in the past, tracing the situation to division among them.
They are the largest ethnic group, comprising approximately 45.7 to 47.5 of the population of Ghana. This percentage represents a population of about 15.7 million people or more, based on Ghana’s most recent population figures.
Speaking in a Tiktok live programme by activists of the party, Kodua said he is convinced when all the Akans unite, the NPP will be a formidable force to reckon in the 2028 general election.
He accused the NDC of being behind the fragmentation of Akans paving the way for them to massively win the election.
“We thank you that you have come together, all of us Akans have to unite because I believe that the NPP all our strength lies with us, the Akan group.
Because we were divided as Akans Bonos said this, Fantes said this, Asantes said that, Assins said that, that is what the NDC used to divide us in a video The New Republic has intercepted.
He lauded the formation of the association and pledged total support for their activities.
“Because they know that, if we are more so if you have a group like this to encourage unity, I can promise that any support that you need the party will offer.
If we work hard by 2028, and if the Akans vote in their numbers, the victory we seek shall come to past”, he added.
In the past, even though some labelled the NPP that it was formed on ethnic line and not a national party, it members and leadership always vehemently refuted same.
On record, some leading members of the party including former President Akufo-Addo, were caught in tapes bragging that the NPP was an Akan party.
During one of his interactions with members in the Eastern Region, the former president, who was an opposition leader then, was caught on tape, describing the NPP as “Yen akanfuo” to wits “we Akans of the NPP”.
Per Ghana’s law, a political party must necessarily look national in character. No one is permitted to form a party based on tribal, or ethnic group and many others.
Ghana’s Political Parties Act of 2000 (Act 574) explicitly prohibits political parties from being formed on ethnic or tribal lines, ensuing that parties are not established based on tribal divisions among others.
This law prevents parties from using ethnic or tribal affiliations as their organizing principal, aiming to foster national unity and focus on policy rather than sectional interests.