Professor Albert Kwadwo Adu Boahen, an Ashanti from Juaben but born in Oseim, Eastern Region was the first Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under the 4th Republican Constitution of Ghana. This is the man credited with breaking the “culture of silence” in Ghana. He was the Co-founder of Movement for Freedom and Justice, and served as the first Chairman for the movement.
Professor Adu Boahen contested the 1992 Presidential election on the ticket of New Patriotic Party (NPP) and lost to the NDC’s Jerry John Rawlings.
Late Prof.Adu Boahen
Razak Kojo Opoku (PhD)
Prof. Adu Boahen bagged over 1.2 million votes, representing 30.29%, trailing the NDC’s Presidential candidate, Jerry John Rawlings’ 58.4% by a gap of 1.1 million. Prof. Adu Boahen’s electoral fortunes was better than the party’s score in 2024 in terms of the presidential margins.
In 1992, the country was transitioning from military to democratic dispensation with hostile and repressive political spectrum which largely explains Prof. Boahen’s electoral defeat.
Prior to the 1992 Presidential election, below is the result for the internal presidential primary of NPP:
Prof. Albert Adu Boahen – 1, 121 votes (56.60%)
Dr. Dsane Selby – 343 votes(17.30%)
John Agyekum Kufuor – 326 votes (16.50%)
However, ahead of the 1996 Presidential election, Prof. Adu Boahen was REJECTED by the delegates of the NPP during the party’s internal presidential primary as follows:
John Agyekum Kufuor – 1, 034 votes (51.99%)
Prof. Albert Adu Boahen – 710 votes (35.70%)
J. H. Mensah – 110 votes (5.53%)
Did NPP Delegates reject Prof. Albert Adu Boahen in 1996 because of his Tribe or Religion or being from Ashanti Region with base in Eastern Region? Certainly NOT.
Ghana’s political history, especially the Presidential slot in the NPP has peculiar historical features; a candidature for a second-time bid for the presidency has never been an “entitlement or consolation prize”.
The delegates of the NPP reward meritocracy for the second-time bid or third-time bid; not tribe or ethnic or religious affiliation.
Let’s reject any Presidential candidate who would adopt emotional blackmail tactics based on “Tribal-Religion-Demographics Minority Victim Theory” to create an impression that he is being contested because he is a Northerner or a Muslim or Traditionalist or from any other minority tribes.
Politics and democracy is all about competition, and cooperation after competition.
Issued by:
Razak Kojo Opoku
Founding President of UP Tradition Institute
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has its roots deeply grounded in unity and national inclusiveness. Our tradition stems from the United Party (UP), a political force formed through the coming together of parties and groups from across the length and breadth of Ghana. From its very foundation, the NPP has never been and can never be a tribal party.
NPP Flagbearer hopefuls
It is, therefore, worrying when comments and postures from some senior members of our Party appear to suggest that tribal considerations should play a role in our internal and national political discourse. This is not only dangerous but also undermines the very principles on which our party was built.
Hon. Bryan Acheampong, as a senior figure in our party, must take note that tribal politics will not help the NPP. What will sustain and strengthen our party is unity, fairness, inclusiveness, and a focus on policies that bring progress to all Ghanaians, regardless of ethnic background.
We urge all party members, especially our leaders, to remain committed to the founding vision of the NPP as a broad-based national party that represents the aspirations of every Ghanaian. Divisive tendencies must be rejected in order to safeguard the future of our tradition and ensure victory in future elections.
Below are some of the tribal and religious bigotry SINS of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia since 2016:
We need both the Quran and the Bible at the Jubilee House.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in 2016 told Muslims to vote for NPP so that he will represent them with the Holy Quran in the Jubilee House.
A vote for me to be President will open more doors for Muslims and Zongo dwellers.
I will beat Mahama in the North, change the Zongos.
NDC is AFRAID of me because they know the 2024 election would be over before it even started if I am made the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party.
Dr.Mahamudu Bawumia
Mahama said a Northerner can’t be President on the ticket of NPP but I am here so vote for me.
I am also a Northerner so vote for me-Dr. Bawumia to Sekyere Afram Plains Constituents.
Dr. Bawumia accused Mahama’s presidency of being biased against Muslims in the Country.
According to Dr. Bawumia in May 2016, the current seat of government is occupied by persons who are from the Christian fraternity which to me does not create balance within the highest political positions in Ghana.
Dr.Razak Kojo Opoku
On May 2016, Dr. Bawumia said that, it is expected that because there are two dominant religious groups in the Country, the President and his Vice-President ought not to have have been from the same Christian religion.
Another major issue that I want to bring to the attention of the people is that; if we look at the Flagstaff house today, it does not reflect the people of Ghana in terms of religion.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia made this comment when he was addressing some NPP supporters in the Sissala East District in the Upper West Region in May 2016.
In insha Allah, if Nana Akufo-Addo becomes President, he will swear with the Bible and enter the Flagstaff House, and I will swear with the Quran and enter the Flagstaff House. So when we combine the Quran and the Bible, Ghana will be the major beneficiary. The blessings of God will be on Ghana if we have the two religions in the Flagstaff House, stated in 2016.
The Zongo’s are saying something beautiful and interesting. They say they don’t believe the NPP will bring Dr. Bawumia as Flagbearer. But they also say, if you bring Dr. Bawumia, they will vote for him. He made this statement in Oti Region.
When you look at the North and the Zongo, these strongholds of the NDC will fall if Dr. Bawumia is elected the Flagbearer. These two will fall, and when they fall, the NDC cannot win the election. In the Volta Region too, I will get more votes. Their strongholds will shake when Dr. Bawumia is the Flagbearer. They know it that is why they are so scared of Dr. Bawumia.
A deliberate political mafia strategy to ensure that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia obtained 100% votes in the 2023 Super Delegates Conference of NPP. The North East Regional Campaign Coordinator for Alan Kyerematen was brutally attacked.
Ahead of 2028, let’s all be guided by our past mistakes, chart new course for national cohesion, and refrain from using religion and tribe as the benchmarks for votes seeking because Ghana is a Secular State with Christianity as a dominant religion.
Issued by:
Razak Kojo Opoku
Founding President of UP Tradition Institute
A former District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Amansie South in the Ashanti Region, who is also a private legal practitioner, Mr. Clement Opoku Gyamfi, has reaffirmed his decision to contest the National Youth Organiser position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when nomination is opened.
Mr. Gyamfi, who is popularly known as CID in the political space, declared his determination and commitment to work assiduously to bring the party back to power.
Mr.Clement Opoku Gyamfi aka CID
“I’m not just interested in a contest for position, but the focus is to lead the youth to deliver victory for the NPP in the 2028 general election,” he stressed.
The NPP national youth organiser hopeful stated this in an interview with the media on the sidelines of a three-day conference for presiding members (PMs) in the Ashanti Region.
The capacity-building conference was on the theme: Strengthening local governance; the opportunities and the challenges.
According to CID, he stands tall among all the potential NPP national youth hopefuls.
“CID is exceptional because I cut across all spheres of the delegates. I’m humble and respectful to all manner of people. If I’m given the nod, I will work with everyone to make sure the youth deliver victory for the NPP in 2028,” he said.
“I’m for all and
I cut across. CID is known for according each and everyone the needed respect.
Politics is about numbers, and each and everyone should be respected to encourage them to give off their best for our ultimate goal of winning power in 2028,” he added.
More than 20 Ghanaian journalists have been trained to investigate and report more responsibly on youth migration, as the African Leaders Network for Democracy, Emergence and Renewal (Réseau‑LEADER) pressed the media to dismantle misleading narratives that push young Africans into dangerous journeys abroad.
The training session, held in Accra on August 22, 2025, formed part of a broader Réseau‑LEADER campaign under the theme “The Role of the Media in Addressing the Illusions and Realities of African Youth Migration.” Participants were taken through statistics on African youth migration and briefed on the specific role journalists can play in countering deceptive recruitment schemes, misinformation and exploitative networks.
“Every day, thousands of African youths are lured by embellished narratives of success in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and elsewhere,” said Nana Bafour Odefour Boamah Darko, Mawerehene of Akyem Adadientam. “Journalists must expose the lies behind these supposed success stories rather than only reporting the ill treatment migrants face after they leave.”
Réseau‑LEADER pointed to several troubling examples that organisers say require urgent journalistic scrutiny. The network highlighted the “Alabuga Start” case in Russia, where young African women were reportedly recruited under the pretext of training and later alleged to have faced exploitation. Officials at the session urged reporters to pursue investigative work to clarify unresolved “grey areas” around the programme.
Speakers also revisited long‑standing concerns about the kafala sponsorship system in parts of the Middle East, where domestic workers—many from African countries—have faced passport confiscation, unpaid wages, poor living conditions and physical or psychological abuse. Similar patterns were reported in parts of Asia, where trainees and technical workers have reportedly been pushed into conditions close to forced labour and left largely invisible to local authorities.
Dr Jean Emmanuel, chairperson of Réseau‑LEADER, called on young people to temper migration hopes with realistic planning. “Success is not achieved overnight,” he said. “If the youth’s goal is to make it big by travelling to some Western countries, they may be putting their lives at risk.”
The group released the Accra Declaration on the Role of the Media in Addressing the Illusions and Realities of African Youth Migration, urging newsrooms to investigate and expose false narratives, dedicate airtime and digital platforms to awareness‑raising, and collaborate with community leaders to carry clear, locally relevant messages into rural areas.
The declaration also called on governments to probe dubious recruitment programmes, urged media to amplify survivors’ testimonies, and recommended creative, participatory campaigns to mobilise young people around safer, realistic pathways to employment and training.
Journalists who attended said they welcomed practical guidance on data‑driven reporting and cross‑border collaboration. Several newsroom representatives indicated plans to form investigative partnerships and to run local language campaigns aimed at communities most likely to be targeted by recruiters.
Réseau‑LEADER has scheduled a follow‑up session in Accra on September 22, 2025, in which media professionals, migration experts and institutional partners are expected to deepen discussions and work toward a practical roadmap for responsible migration coverage.
“Trapped migration is not only an individual tragedy; it is a collective threat to the future of our continent,” the Accra Declaration concludes. “The media must become true allies in this struggle.”
There are several instances where the Most Marketed Product does not sell.
Commercially, there are several examples of “Most Marketed-Product Failures”, however for the purpose of this article let me just give ten (10) examples:
Kasapa Mobile Telecommunication Company operations in Ghana.
Glo Mobile Telecommunication Company operations in Ghana
Google Glass
Apple Newton
Satisfries
Microsoft Zune
Nokia
Motorola
Crystal Pepsi
HP TouchPad
When it comes to politics, some ‘products’ or persons who were well marketed but could not translate their popularity into votes(Product Failures) include;
Raila Odinga of Kenya
Atiku Abubakar of Nigeria
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe
Anthony James Leon of South Africa
Julius Malema of South Africa
Omoyele Yele Sowore of Nigeria
Maurice Kamto of Cameroon
Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (also known as Bobi Wine) of Uganda
Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon of South Sudan
Martin Madidi Fayulu of Democratic Republic of Congo
Diane Rwigara of Rwanda
Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (also known as Al Gore) of United States of America
Hillary Clinton of United States of America
Kamala Harris of United States of America
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya of Belarus
Syarhei Tsikhanouskaya of Belarus
Marion Anne Perrine “Marine” Le Pen of France.
Muhammadu Buhari contested in the Nigeria presidential elections four times before becoming President.
In our Ghanaian electoral environment, these people and others not mentioned here have been on the ballot several times, yet received little to no acceptance from the Ghanaian voters. They are;
Edward Mahama of PNC
Thomas Nuako Ward-Brew
Dr. J. B. Danquah of UGCC/UP
Paa Kwesi Nduom
I would like to end here by stressing that being the Most Marketed does not and may not always end in voter acceptability.
The “Voters’ Psychology” can easily make nonsense of the “Most Marketed” slogan during general elections.
Issued by: Razak Kojo Opoku (PhD)
UP Tradition Institute
A private legal practitioner, who doubles as a former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie South in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Clement Opoku Gyamfi, has proposed several practical and strategic recommendations aimed at strengthening and improving revenue generation across the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) so as to ensure accelerated development.
According to him, if the District Assemblies are committed to strengthening internal generated funds, they should digitalise all collection points, train revenue officers and enforce compliance with tax obligations.
Mr.Clement Opoku Gyamfi (CID) speaking at the conference
The former DCE expressed concerns about the several challenges MMDAs face. He said to reverse the current trend, they needed to focus on innovative revenue generation mechanisms, such as property taxes, business licensing, market levies, and tourism-related taxes.
“By improving our Revenue Collection Units and leveraging digital technologies, we can enhance fiscal autonomy at the local level. The Assemblies should also introduce mandatory training modules for Assembly staff members and elected officials on governance, budgeting, and community engagement to enhance their capacity development,” he added.
A section of the participants
Mr Gyamfi, who is affectionately known as CID in the political space, made the proposal at the opening ceremony of a three-day capacity-building conference organised for the Conference of Ashanti Presiding Members (PMs) held at Miklin Hotel in Kumasi from 21st to 23rd August 2025.
The conference was on the theme: “Strengthening local governance, the opportunities and the challenges.”
Mr. Gyamfi, who was also the chairperson for the opening ceremony, said for MMDAs to institutionalize social accountability tools, they should encourage town hall meetings, community forums, and social audits.
Besides, he called on MMDAs to allocate budgets and roles to zonal, urban and town councils, and build their operational capacity.
He, therefore, declared his support to the call for the election of MMDCEs to deepen local accountability and citizen participation. He reminded the PMs that the journey of strengthening local governance is not an event—it is a continuous process of learning, unlearning, and relearning.
“We must embrace the challenges before us and turn them into opportunities for growth. Let me leave you with the wise words of Theodore Roosevelt: ‘Do what you can with what you have at where you are.’ Let us do exactly that and, together, we will transform our districts into models of effective governance, vibrant local economies, and empowered citizenry,” he stressed.
“As Presiding Members, your leadership is pivotal in ensuring the effectiveness of local governance. You (PMs) are the guardians of procedural integrity and the chief facilitators of inclusive decision-making within the General Assembly. Your role is not merely to chair meetings but to create an atmosphere where open dialogue, mutual respect, and collaborative problem-solving can thrive,” he added.
He continued, “As Winston Churchill once said, ‘The price of greatness is responsibility’, your responsibility to the people in your districts is immense. As neutral leaders, it is your task to ensure that development planning is inclusive, resource allocation is transparent, and Assembly oversight is effective.”
It is very funny how some members of Dr. Bawumia’s camp are alleging that the decision by SSNIT to sell off 60% of its stake in four hotels to private investors under a public-private partnership with a strategic investor like Rock City Hotel automatically caused the 2024 defeat of the NPP.
However, the two reports which are very dear to the heart of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, that is, the Mike Oquaye Report and the Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu Report never fingered SSNIT-Rock City deal as the possible cause of NPP’s defeat in 2024.
Dr.Bryan Acheampong
Kennedy Agyapong, Bryan Acheampong, Yaw Osei Adutwum, and all members of NPP EXCEPT Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his people have been accused of as the cause of NPP 2024 defeat.
However, according to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in April 2025, NPP lost the elections in 2024 because of:
1. E-levy
2. Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP)
3. High Cost of living
4. Prices of goods and services went up and left many Ghanaians struggling
5. Arrogance of power (we were not willing to listen)
6. Government’s inability to pay NABCO and others
7. School feeding caterers and others were also not being paid
8. Controversy surrounding the $ 58 million National Cathedral project
9. Last-minute fuel price hike
Other major factors that caused the defeat of NPP in 2024 not mentioned by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia were:
1. Cedi Depreciation, moving $1 to 4ghc to $1 to 17ghc.
2. High Inflation
3. High Interest rates
4. Galamsey
5. Disrespect towards certain Chiefs
6. Break-down of the relationship between NPP and the media
7. Sidelining of Party members leading to Apathy
8. Suffering of the Private sector, and collapse of several private enterprises
9. Failed 1 Village 1 Dam policy, 1 million dollars, one constituency policy, among others
10. Lack of proper infrastructural development and Interchanges in the Ashanti Region as promised.
11. Demographics challenges faced by the 2024 Presidential candidate.
Razak Kojo Opoku (PhD) author
The question now is; When did Public-Private Partnerships become an illegality under the laws of Ghana?
In its own wisdom, Ghana’s Parliament even enacted the Public-Private Partnership Act, 2020 (Act 1039) to regulate the entire PPP process, from project identification to implementation, as well as provisions for procurement, contracting and dispute resolution.
According to the Management of SSNIT before settling on Rock City Hotel, SSNIT:
1. Went through International Competitive Tendering (ICT) processes as prescribed by the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended by Act 914 for the selection of a strategic investor.
Commenced the process with the engagement of a Transaction Advisor through ICT method of procurement, with publication of advertisements in the Daily Graphic on 14th November, 2018, and in the Ghanaian Times on 15th November, 2018. The said advertisement was equally published in The Economist, a renowned and reputable international magazine in its 5-11, 2019 edition.
The legitimate questions any reasonable person would ask regarding SSNIT’s decision to sell 60% of its stake in four hotels are;
1. Was Rock City Hotel the only company that applied for the contract? Absolutely NO.
A total of nine (9) companies responded to the advertisements by SSNIT and accordingly submitted proposals by the 23rd of March, 2022 deadline. Six (6) out of the nine (9) companies were shortlisted and issued with Request for Proposal (RFP) documents. The qualifying companies were invited for the opening of their financial proposals.
Based on the technical and financial evaluation by an independent committee, Rock City Hotel emerged the best.
Was the contract finally awarded to Rock City Hotel to take over 60% of SSNIT’s Stake in the four(4) hotels (Labadi Beach Hotel, La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Ridge Royal Hotel, and Elmina Beach Resort) even after emerging with the best and strongest technical and financial proposals amongst those received by SSNIT? Absolutely NO.
The process of SSNIT getting a strategic partnership was not yet concluded before a petition was submitted to CHRAJ requesting for a full-scale investigation into the sale of SSNIT hotels. As a law-abiding corporate entity, Rock City Hotel expressed disinterest in the contract given the impending investigation by CHRAJ, and the politically sponsored attacks on its owner, Dr. Bryan Acheampong.
Is Bryan Acheampong the first businessman who has had his company express an interest in a strategic partnership with Hotels publicly owned by State entity? Absolutely NO.
(a). In 2006, the government in partnership with Saudi Prince, Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Alsaud, a world acclaimed entrepreneur invested about $100 million into the renovations and construction works of the State-owned Ambassador Hotel, which was built as a gift to Ghana about 50 years ago (then in 2006) and now 68years ago in 2025 by the United Kingdom. The Ambassador Hotel has been taken over and managed by Movenpick Hotel, a hotel management chain.
Ghanaians saw nothing wrong with this arrangement probably because the Saudi Prince wasn’t a Black businessman or a Ghanaian Politician. The Saudi Prince expressed an interest in the Ambassador Hotel around 2003.
(b). In 2008, Ghana Libyan-Arab Holding Company Limited (GLAHCO) took over the ownership of state-owned Kumasi City Hotel and Accra City Hotel and further entered into a contractual agreement with the Golden Tulip Hospitality Group of the Netherlands to manage these two hotels under the brand name Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel and Golden Tulip Accra.
The financiers of the projects were Government of Ghana, Libyan Government Investment Company in Africa, and Ghana Commercial Bank.
Let’s also mention that, in 1979, Ace Hotels and Resorts Limited acquired the Kumasi City Hotel through the formation of a joint venture company to rehabilitate the hotel.
In 2022, the management of Golden Tulip Hotels, the Ghana Libyan-Arab Holding Company (GLAHCO) stated that, they have leased the Golden Tulip Accra and Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel to Achour Holdings, operators of Grand Lancaster chain of hotels for 12years.
Achour Holdings is a private Lebanese company located in Beirut. Imagine the level of political spinning if these two hotels were leased to Rock City Hotel for 12years?
Ghana Libyan-Arab Holding Company Limited(GLAHCO) is a joint-venture between the Libyan Arab African Investment Company(LAAICO) and the Government of Ghana with participating interest of 40% and 60% equities respectively.
(c). Rawlings’ government ushered in the Ghana Libyan-Arab Holding Company (GLAHCO) during the period of Divestiture Implementation Committee (DIC). The Divestiture Implementation Committee(DIC) is widely considered by many as a body set up by the PNDC junta to oversee the process of their large scale corruption of sale of state lands, buildings, and properties to themselves and their cronies. Over 60 state-owned companies were placed on Divestiture and sold to cronies of NDC between 1989 and 1992.
GLAHCO and several private business persons benefitted from this divestiture exercise.
Certainly, the genuine intentions of Rock City Hotel owned by Dr. Bryan Acheampong to go through all the procurement processes to partner with SSNIT as a strategic investor to raise capital to invest in the SSNIT hotels as well as their management under Public-Private partnership can NEVER be considered as one of the major reasons why the NPP lost the 2024 elections.
….Signed…
Razak Kojo Opoku(PhD)
Founding President of UP Tradition Institute
Senior News Editor at the Kumasi unit of The Multimedia Group, Kofi Adu Domfeh, has emerged victorious once again in the re-run of the Ashanti Regional Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Chairmanship race.
The re-run, held on Friday, August 22, followed a petition by his opponent, Georgina Ama Ankomah, who challenged the outcome of the first contest.
Kofi Adu Domfeh speaking to the media after his victory
She argued that irregularities in the GJA voters’ register, particularly regarding the eligibility of some members, undermined the fairness of the process.
Her petition to the GJA’s Elections Dispute Resolution Committee was upheld, prompting the Association to order a re-run of the presidential race only, while results for the other executive positions remained intact.
In the initial election, Domfeh narrowly secured victory with 16 votes, edging out Georgina Ama Ankomah, who garnered 15 votes.
The re-run, although tense, reaffirmed his win with 20 votes against his opponent who had 11 votes.Source: Nana Boakye Yiadom
