New Patriotic Party (NPP) General Secretary aspirant Eugene Boakye Antwi has launched a scathing attack on incumbent General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, describing him as the worst person to have occupied the position based on the party’s recent electoral performance.
Mr Antwi argues that Mr Kodua’s record does not justify another term, particularly following the NPP’s heavy defeat in the 2024 general elections and the party’s sharp decline in parliamentary representation.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, the former Member of Parliament questioned why Mr Kodua should be given another opportunity when previous General Secretaries were not retained after the party suffered defeat at the polls.
He pointed to the case of John Boadu, who lost his position despite the NPP winning 137 parliamentary seats, and contrasted that performance with the party’s current position.
“John Boadu was voted out after the party won 137 seats, so why should Kodua be retained after the party secured only 87 seats?” Mr Antwi asked.
According to him, the results of the 2024 elections should be a major factor in determining who leads the party as it seeks to rebuild ahead of future elections.
Mr Antwi said the NPP lost 50 parliamentary seats under Mr Kodua’s tenure, despite assurances that the party would increase its representation in Parliament.
“He promised to increase the number of seats we have in Parliament; we’ve lost 50 seats rather,” he stated.
The General Secretary hopeful also rejected attempts to defend Mr Kodua’s candidacy on the basis of his Ashanti Region background.
He argued that party members should assess candidates based on their records and contribution to the NPP rather than their regional origins.
Mr Antwi cited the NPP’s performance in the Ashanti Region during the 2024 election, arguing that the figures did not provide sufficient justification for retaining the incumbent General Secretary simply because he comes from the region.
He further attributed the NPP’s poor showing in the election largely to apathy among its supporters.
In his view, restoring confidence among grassroots members must therefore be at the centre of the party’s rebuilding efforts.
Mr Antwi said his campaign has taken him across all 16 regions, where he has engaged party executives and supporters about the challenges confronting the NPP.
He said the feedback from the grassroots had reinforced his belief that polling station and constituency executives must receive greater support from the national leadership.
He described these grassroots structures as the foundation of the party and stressed the need for improved training, capacity building and resources.
“The work of a General Secretary is capacity building, training and finding resources for them to do it,” he said.
Mr Antwi maintained that accountability must form an important part of the NPP’s leadership culture, insisting that party officials should be prepared to accept responsibility for both their decisions and the outcomes recorded under their leadership.
The contest for the NPP General Secretary position is expected to be closely watched as the party prepares to elect its next national executives.
Mr Antwi is seeking to unseat Mr Kodua in the upcoming national executive elections, with the campaign increasingly focusing on the NPP’s 2024 electoral performance and the direction of the party’s rebuilding process.
