I was branded homosexual by NPP party gurus in a smear campaign – Paul Afoko

Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Awentami Afoko, has disclosed that he was once branded homosexual by some party gurus.

He said the allegation was part of a calculated smear campaign designed to destroy his reputation and undermine his authority within the party.

Speaking on Starr FM on Thursday, September 4, 2025, Afoko explained that being branded homosexual by party gurus was central to the smear campaign he faced during his tenure. According to him, such smear campaigns were not only false but also dangerous to the unity and stability of the NPP.

Afoko noted that the homosexual label was part of a wider smear campaign by some party people who wanted to discredit him and force him out. He narrated how he directly confronted one of the individuals accused of spreading the allegation. “I actually called the person who said that. I called them and I said, I hear you’re calling me a homosexual and he said where did you hear that from? And I said I asked you a question. Either you say yes or no,” Afoko recalled.

He added, “If I am a homosexual and you describe me as a homosexual, I will not be offended because that is what I am. If I am not a homosexual and you call me a homosexual, then you’re only just telling lies because I am not a homosexual. So I’m not offended. I’m just calling you to tell you that this sort of negative politics is not good.”

The former NPP chairman stressed that smear campaigns, including being branded homosexual by party gurus, were part of divisive tactics that weakened the party. He also recalled how attempts at vote-buying were used against him but insisted he chose to run a clean campaign focused on message and vision.

Reflecting on his controversial tenure, Afoko said that although he welcomed the NPP’s 2025 amnesty for estranged members, the restriction barring them from contesting internal elections for two years undermines true reconciliation.

He urged the party to remain committed to unity and progress by rejecting smear campaigns and focusing instead on integrity and renewal.