By Nadia Ntiamoah
Former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo have called on members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to prioritise unity, discipline and collective purpose as the party holds its 2026 National Delegates Conference.
In separate messages to the conference, the two former presidents reflected on the NPP’s traditions and urged the current generation of party leaders and delegates to rise above individual and sectional interests in the task of rebuilding the party.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, in his message to the delegates, said it was a source of joy for him to once again stand among members of the NPP family at an important moment in the party’s history.
He recalled the ideological foundations of the party, describing the NPP as a political tradition built around property-owning democracy, personal liberty and service to the ordinary Ghanaian.
According to Mr Kufuor, the principles that have sustained the NPP through previous difficult periods must continue to guide its present and future leadership. He therefore urged the current generation of party leaders to maintain discipline and unity, stressing that the party has historically achieved its successes when its members have placed the collective interest above individual ambitions.
“Our Party has always been greater than any one individual,” Mr Kufuor said, emphasising the importance of the collective will of NPP members from the grassroots to the national leadership.
He said the grassroots remain an essential part of the party’s strength and expressed confidence that the same collective spirit that contributed to previous electoral victories could once again help the NPP regain political ground.
Mr Kufuor wished the 2026 National Delegates Conference success and expressed the hope that the party would emerge from the exercise as a united organisation prepared to face the next electoral contest.
Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also sent a message to members of what he described as the “Great Elephant Family,” welcoming delegates to the 2026 National Delegates Conference.
In his message, Mr Akufo-Addo described the conference as an important stage in the NPP’s ongoing reorganisation, particularly as delegates elect a new crop of national officers to lead the party into its next phase.
He called on the new national officers to work with the party’s presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, parliamentary candidates and the wider party structure in preparation for the next general election.
The former president urged delegates to be guided by the conference theme, “One Party, One Purpose, United for Victory,” and to place the broader interests of the NPP above sectional considerations.
He said the party’s rebuilding process would require leadership capable of strengthening unity and restoring confidence at every level of the organisation, from polling stations and constituencies to the national leadership.
Mr Akufo-Addo acknowledged that the task ahead would be demanding and would require energy, determination and loyalty from party members.
He nevertheless expressed confidence that the NPP could overcome its current challenges if its members remained committed to the party’s principles and worked together towards a common objective.
Drawing on the party’s previous electoral experiences, he referred to the NPP’s victories in 2000 and 2016 as examples of what could be achieved through organisation and collective effort.
He further expressed the hope that, with God’s guidance, the party would once again be able to form a government under the leadership of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and advance the principles of the rule of law and the welfare of ordinary Ghanaians.
Mr Akufo-Addo concluded by conveying his best wishes to delegates for a successful conference and reaffirming his continued commitment to the NPP and Ghana.
The messages from the two former presidents come as the NPP gathers in Kumasi for its 2026 National Delegates Conference, where delegates are expected to elect new national officers and consider issues concerning the future organisation of the party.
The conference therefore represents a significant moment in the party’s internal reorganisation, with the new leadership expected to strengthen the party’s structures, maintain unity and coordinate its activities ahead of the next electoral cycle.
