By Daniel Bampoe
Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Awentami Afoko, has called on the party to restore its credibility with the business community, admitting that some decisions taken during the party’s previous administration eroded confidence among entrepreneurs and investors.
According to Afoko, rebuilding trust with businesses must become a central pillar of the party’s renewal strategy if it hopes to reconnect with the electorate and reclaim power in future elections.
He made the remarks in Accra while officially declaring his intention to contest the NPP National Chairmanship, outlining what he described as a vision to reposition the party through unity, accountability and economic transformation.
Addressing journalists, party faithful and supporters, Afoko acknowledged that sections of Ghana’s private sector became dissatisfied with policies implemented during the NPP’s tenure in government, resulting in frustration, uncertainty and declining confidence among businesses.
He said the party must openly recognise those concerns instead of dismissing them and demonstrate the humility to learn from its mistakes.
“To the business community, I say this: the NPP must regain your trust. We know that mistakes were made. We know that some of you felt disappointed. We know that some policies and actions created hardship, uncertainty or frustration. As a party, we must have the humility to listen, to learn and to correct what went wrong,” Afoko stated.
The former National Chairman argued that the NPP has traditionally been recognised as the foremost political movement for private enterprise, economic freedom and wealth creation, and therefore cannot afford to lose the confidence of the business community.
He said the party must return to the economic principles upon which it was founded by strengthening partnerships with businesses and supporting policies that encourage entrepreneurship, innovation and investment.
According to him, rebuilding the economy requires close collaboration between government and the private sector, stressing that sustainable job creation and economic growth cannot be achieved without the active participation of businesses.
Afoko proposed what he described as a “New Prosperity Agenda,” which he said would place businesses and entrepreneurs at the centre of national development.
He explained that the proposed agenda would involve direct engagement with traders, manufacturers, farmers, transport operators, artisans, professionals, contractors, technology entrepreneurs and emerging start-up businesses to develop policies that respond to their needs.
“The NPP remains the natural home of business, enterprise, innovation and wealth creation. We must work with traders, manufacturers, farmers, transport operators, artisans, professionals, contractors, technology entrepreneurs and young start-ups to build a new prosperity agenda,” he said.
He maintained that restoring confidence among businesses would require more than campaign promises, insisting that the party must commit itself to practical policies that promote investment, reduce uncertainty and create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship.
According to Afoko, the economic recovery depends on empowering the private sector to expand production, create employment opportunities and drive sustainable national growth.
His comments come as the NPP embarks on a rebuilding process following its defeat in the 2024 general elections, with several party leaders calling for reforms aimed at restoring public confidence and repositioning the party ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Afoko, who has built his campaign around the theme of “Reunite, Rebuild and Recapture,” has consistently argued that the NPP must acknowledge its shortcomings, reconnect with its traditional support base and embrace a more inclusive leadership style capable of uniting the party.
He believes rebuilding trust with the business community is essential to that broader objective, insisting that the NPP’s electoral fortunes will depend largely on its ability to convince entrepreneurs, investors and ordinary Ghanaians that it remains the political party best equipped to create opportunities, support enterprise and deliver shared economic prosperity.
