John Boadu: Tried & tested for NPP’s next chapter – Kofi Karikari-Bondzie writes 

“At every turning point in a political party’s journey, a special kind of leader is required; one who has been tried, tested and proven through years of service and sacrifice.”

That’s the argument former General Secretary John Boadu is making as the New Patriotic Party prepares to choose its next National Chairman. Boadu is pitching himself as the “tried and tested” leader the NPP needs to rebuild, reconcile, and return to power in 2028.

As the party weighs experience against fresh faces, his case rests on a simple premise: when the NPP is out of power, it needs footprints, not just promises.

A Record That Speaks
Boadu’s campaign leans heavily on his tenure as General Secretary, a period he describes as the party’s strongest electoral showing. Under his watch, the NPP secured 5.7 million votes in 2016 and 6.7 million in 2020 — the two highest vote totals in the party’s history.

“For when the drums of war sound, the people remember not the talkers, but the warrior who once brought the crown home,” he told party faithful.

The “No Experimentation” Argument
With 87 parliamentary seats and a clear goal to reclaim a majority in 2028, Boadu argues this is not the moment for untested leadership. He points to over 30 years in the party, rising from polling station chairman to General Secretary, as evidence of his understanding of the party’s grassroots and national machinery.

“This is not the time for experimentation with party leaders,” he said. “Proven experience matters in every rescue mission”.

His Agenda for the Party
If elected, Boadu says his focus will be on:
1. Healing and reconciliation – bridging divisions and restoring the NPP’s family spirit.
2. Rebuilding and rebranding – repositioning the party for national appeal.
3. Empowering structures – strengthening polling stations, constituencies, and regions.
4. Resource mobilization – creating transparent, sustainable funding mechanisms.
5. Parliamentary strength – setting up a committee to support and fortify NPP MPs.

The Contest Ahead
Boadu isn’t alone in the race. Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has also declared his bid, describing it as “spiritually guided”. The contest is shaping up as a clash between grassroots mobilization and national executive experience.

Conclusion
For John Boadu, the bid is framed as a return to steady hands. Whether delegates buy the “tried and tested” pitch over fresh faces will be decided in the months ahead. But his message is clear: in a rescue mission, you call the one who has done it before.