National Chairman hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, has said his decision to return to active party politics is motivated by a desire to help the NPP regain power and support the presidential ambitions of Mahamudu Bawumia.

Addressing party members in the Volta, Oti and Central regions, the former NPP National Chairman stated that he came out of retirement not for personal gain, but because he believes the party can rebuild and return to government.

“I didn’t leave my retirement to come in for any reason other than power. Power is all we want, so that we can use power to develop our country according to the way we see it,” he said.

Mr. Afoko maintained that the NPP’s core values and political philosophy remain the best blueprint for Ghana’s development. However, he stressed that the party must first address internal divisions and restore unity if it hopes to regain the confidence of voters.

He cautioned that the party’s declining representation in Parliament should serve as a warning to members, especially party elders.

“If we sit back, especially you the elders, and watch it, the party that you have toiled for from your youth is on a downward trajectory,” he remarked.

Highlighting the party’s electoral setbacks, Mr. Afoko noted that the NPP’s parliamentary seats had dropped from 169 to 87, describing the decline as a clear indication that urgent reforms are needed.

“We are now at 87 from 169. We all must stand up and say this party must turn the corner and rise again,” he urged.

According to him, restoring unity within the party is crucial to its revival and eventual return to power. He called on members across all levels of the party to put aside their differences and work together toward a common goal.

As part of his vision for the NPP, Mr. Afoko outlined his “3Rs” agenda — Reunite, Rebuild and Recapture.

He explained that the first objective is to reunite all factions within the party and reconcile with aggrieved members. The second is to rebuild the party’s grassroots structures from the polling station level to the national executive level. The final goal is to recapture political power and return the NPP to government.

Mr. Afoko expressed confidence that with unity, strong organisation and renewed commitment, the party can regain its electoral strength and successfully compete for power in future elections.