Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, has said he would consider recruiting dancehall artiste Shatta Wale into the party, pointing to the musician’s strong influence among young Ghanaians as a valuable tool for voter engagement.
In an interview on JoyNews on November 11, 2025, Boadu stressed the need for the NPP to prioritise youth involvement, noting that young people are expected to constitute a major share of the electorate by 2028.
He added that building meaningful connections with the youth through platforms and personalities that appeal to their interests will be essential to the party’s future success.
“If possible, why not? You can get other people out as well,” Boadu said when asked about Shatta Wale’s potential involvement.
Clarifying whether this meant the musician would campaign for the party, he added, “Not necessarily a hard campaign, but passing through our messages.”
The former General Secretary emphasised that the approach would not require traditional political rallies or heavy-handed campaigning. Instead, the party needs to meet young people where they are, using platforms and channels they already engage with.
“I am saying it is not even necessary to have them at your rallies. You need to meet them where they are. You need to tap into their interests and not necessarily bring them onto your political platforms,” he said.
Reflecting on the 2024 elections, Boadu noted that while the NPP had used songs by King Paluta and Shatta Wale during its campaign, it was insufficient to secure a win.
“You need to do more of that by nurturing these youthful people,” he said.
Boadu argued that youth engagement goes beyond entertainment, noting that many voters are looking for recognition and a sense of belonging within political structures, similar to what the National Democratic Congress has done within the academia space.
“Many of these people don’t need much. It’s not about an appointment. Many just need recognition. They need that sense of belonging to the party so they feel valued, even as reviewers of your programs and policies,” he said.
Credit: Ghanaweb.com
