NPP’s Ashanti Chairmanship Shifts Hands: What’s Next for the Party?

The New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Ashanti Regional chairmanship has changed hands, with Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, also known as COKA, succeeding Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi. COKA secured 663 votes to defeat Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, a former head of Ghana's Environmental Protection Authority, who polled 269 votes.

A New Era for the Ashanti NPP

COKA's victory marks the end of the era of Chairman Wontumi, who had served as Ashanti Regional Chairman for three terms. Wontumi's tenure came to an abrupt end in July 2026, when an Accra High Court convicted him over illegal-mining-related offences connected to the Samreboi concession and sentenced him to 20 years' imprisonment. The NPP has rejected the judgment and announced plans to appeal.

COKA's campaign was built around quiet mobilisation, consultation, and the language of work, a stark contrast to Wontumi's highly energetic and outspoken public persona. COKA's supporters have portrayed him as a politician who is accessible, consultative, and willing to work quietly behind the scenes. This image became particularly pronounced during his years of grassroots engagement, when he continued supporting party members, widows, and vulnerable people across the region.

A Grassroots Politician's Long Journey

COKA's political credentials have been built over decades within the NPP's grassroots structures. He has served as a Ward Organiser, Ward Chairman, Regional Financial Secretary, and Constituency Chairman for Afigya Kwabre, a position he held for five terms. He also chaired the Conference of Constituency Chairmen in Ashanti for two terms and served on several party committees. This experience has given him an intimate understanding of the party's machinery, from polling-station organisation to constituency administration and regional coordination.

COKA's professional background extends into business, with more than two decades of experience as a private-sector executive. He has been involved in businesses spanning hospitality, construction, transportation, and haulage. He's acknowledged as a businessman with experience in those sectors and as a director of Longford Royal Group Limited. This combination of political experience, formal education, and business exposure now forms part of the profile he takes into the Ashanti regional leadership.

A Different Face After a Bruising Election

The change comes against the backdrop of the NPP's disappointing performance in the 2024 general election. The party's presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, secured approximately 1.37 million votes in Ashanti, representing a significant drop from the previous election. The party's organisation and electoral fortunes in its most important stronghold are now under scrutiny, and COKA's leadership will be closely watched.

The circumstances surrounding the change are significant, and the NPP's Ashanti leadership transition is taking place under extraordinary circumstances. The outcome of Wontumi's appeal will be closely watched, and COKA's leadership will be tested in the coming months. As the NPP tries to recover from a difficult election, COKA's focus on organisation, structure, and measurable electoral results will be crucial in determining the party's fortunes in Ashanti.

Source: JOY