COKA Woos Kokofu, Begins NPP Reconciliation Drive
Newly elected Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, popularly known as COKA, has begun moves to reconcile members of the party following his victory in the regional chairmanship election.
COKA paid a courtesy call on his main contender, Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, at his residence in Kumasi, in what is being described as a major step towards healing divisions within the party.
COKA secured 663 votes to defeat Dr Kokofu, who polled 269 votes in Saturday’s election.
The meeting formed part of efforts by the newly elected chairman to bring together all sides of the party and strengthen the NPP ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Speaking during the meeting, COKA said unity was critical to the NPP’s efforts to regain political power.
“If we need power, there must be unity. Creating a united party was part of my campaign because without unity, we cannot win power,” he said.
He said his reconciliation efforts would begin immediately, urging party members to forgive one another and put the internal contest behind them.
“In seeking unity, I had to start from here, so I will plead with all of us to forgive one another for our wrongdoings and work to bring the party to power,” COKA stated.
The new chairman also pledged to promote collective leadership and reconciliation from the polling station level through to the regional office.
Kokofu Responds
Dr Henry Kokofu, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), welcomed COKA’s gesture and pledged to support the new regional leadership.
He said COKA, as the winner of the election, had a responsibility to extend an invitation to all party members.
“For us now, the vehicle is unity. He, as the winner and victor, has a huge responsibility to extend the hand of invitation. He has just done that. Perfect,” Dr Kokofu said.
He explained that although he was unable to reach COKA by phone immediately after the election to congratulate him, he sent him a message acknowledging his victory.
“You are welcome to the seat. It is not an easy task, but with all of us around, we have to succeed,” he added.
The meeting was attended by some regional executives and party members.
2028 Focus
COKA has subsequently called on NPP members to put the internal contest behind them and concentrate on rebuilding the party’s structures and reclaiming parliamentary seats lost to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The NPP lost 10 of the Ashanti Region’s 47 parliamentary seats to the NDC in the 2024 general elections.
The latest unity initiative is therefore expected to set the tone for a broader reconciliation process as the Ashanti NPP seeks to rebuild its structures, strengthen its grassroots base and position itself for the 2028 general elections.
