With the New Patriotic Party (NPP) preparing to elect new national executives to steer the party toward the 2028 general elections, Kobina Owusu Debrah (KOD) popularly known as “The Strategist,” is reportedly emerging as a strong contender for the position of 1st National Vice Chairman.
Reports from campaign engagements and consultations across the party’s 32 electoral areas suggest that many delegates are increasingly rallying behind KOD, arguing that the NPP needs experienced, competent and unifying leaders to rebuild the party after its defeat in the last general elections.
According to delegates, the forthcoming internal elections present a crucial opportunity to reposition the party, strengthen its structures and restore confidence among grassroots members.
Party delegates who have participated in various campaign activities say KOD’s issue-based approach has distinguished him from other contenders.
Rather than focusing on personal attacks or internal rivalries, they say his campaign has centred on practical reforms aimed at strengthening party structures, improving communication, enhancing accountability and promoting the welfare of party members.
Many grassroots members believe the next national executives must be selected based on competence, integrity and their ability to unite the party.
They argue that internal divisions and factional politics played a significant role in the NPP’s electoral setback and insist that the party’s future depends on electing leaders capable of rebuilding trust and cohesion.
Supporters also attribute KOD’s growing popularity to his decision to remain unaffiliated with any internal faction within the party.
According to them, his neutral posture has made him acceptable to delegates from different constituencies and political blocs within the NPP.
They believe such an approach positions him to help reconcile differing interests after the internal elections and foster an environment where every member feels respected and valued, regardless of previous political affiliations.
Political observers monitoring the contest have also noted that KOD has maintained a respectful, policy-driven campaign, focusing on research-backed proposals and organisational reforms instead of inflammatory rhetoric.
As part of his campaign, KOD has unveiled a series of proposals aimed at strengthening the party’s internal operations and improving service delivery to members.
His proposals include establishing a Compliance and Feedback Desk with a dedicated hotline to receive concerns from party executives and facilitate prompt responses.
He has also proposed introducing a Suggestion Box System at party offices to enable members to submit complaints, ideas and recommendations for timely consideration.
Other initiatives include implementing a data-driven resource allocation system to promote fairness and transparency in the distribution of party resources and organising regular capacity-building workshops to equip party executives with effective communication skills for grassroots engagement.
In addition, KOD has pledged to establish a Welfare Endowment Fund to support party members during bereavement, illness and other emergencies.
His vision also includes introducing quarterly performance assessments for polling station executives and other party officers to strengthen accountability, as well as continuous leadership and role-orientation training to ensure executives fully understand and effectively discharge their responsibilities.
With the NPP’s internal elections approaching, supporters believe KOD’s campaign continues to gain traction among delegates who are increasingly placing greater emphasis on leadership qualities, competence and practical solutions rather than personalities.
According to many delegates, the overriding priority is to elect a leadership team capable of rebuilding the party’s structures, strengthening grassroots participation, restoring confidence among members and positioning the NPP to mount a united and competitive campaign ahead of the 2028 general elections.
While the outcome of the contest remains in the hands of delegates, KOD’s supporters maintain that his reform agenda, emphasis on unity and policy-focused campaign have made him one of the leading candidates in the race for the party’s 1st National Vice Chairman position.
Story by Yaw Boagyan
