Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has been elected National Chairman of the party at its National Delegates Conference in Kumasi.

Mr Boadu emerged victorious after defeating former Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko, former NPP National Chairman Paul Afoko and two other contenders in a keenly contested election.

His election forms part of the NPP’s national executive elections, which brought together more than 7,000 delegates to elect officers to occupy nine key leadership positions.

Mr Boadu’s victory was boosted by a last-minute development in which fellow chairmanship aspirant Sammy Crabbe withdrew from the race and urged his supporters to transfer their votes to Mr Boadu.

The outcome makes Mr Boadu the new National Chairman of the NPP as the party begins a new phase of its leadership and prepares for its next political challenges.