Former Pusiga Constituency Youth Organiser urges party to prioritise grassroots appeal and winnability

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been urged to rethink its approach to selecting parliamentary candidates for the 2028 general elections in the Upper East Region, with a strong emphasis on grassroots appeal, community influence and electoral winnability

Akparibo Ali Bashiru, a former Youth Organiser of the NPP in the Pusiga Constituency, says the party must move away from conventional candidate selection practices and identify individuals with the popularity, community connections and mobilisation capacity to challenge the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region

His call comes against the backdrop of the NDC’s dominance in the Upper East Region, where the party currently holds all 15 parliamentary seats, leaving the NPP without representation

In a political commentary, Mr Bashiru argued that the NPP cannot continue using the same strategies and expect different electoral outcomes, insisting that the 2028 parliamentary contest requires fresh thinking and, in some constituencies, new faces

He maintained that while academic qualifications, financial strength and established political connections are important considerations, they should not overshadow a candidate’s ability to connect with ordinary voters and secure electoral support

Awudu Asonga tipped for Bolgatanga Central

Mr Bashiru cited the current NPP Bolgatanga Central Constituency Chairman, Awudu Asonga, as an example of a grassroots politician who could potentially improve the party’s electoral fortunes in the constituency

According to him, although Mr Asonga may not have the extensive formal educational background of some potential parliamentary aspirants, he possesses significant grassroots acceptance, community influence and strong local connections that could give him an electoral advantage

He described Mr Asonga as a popular indigenous son of Bolgatanga with deep roots in the Bonaboto political dynamics and strong relationships across different sections of the municipality

Beyond his position as constituency chairman, Mr Bashiru noted that Mr Asonga’s involvement in business, contracting, entrepreneurship and philanthropy has helped him establish connections with ordinary residents

He further highlighted Mr Asonga’s relationships with grassroots supporters, young people, commercial drivers, residents in ghettos and operators at various lorry stations across Bolgatanga

Mr Bashiru believes these connections could translate into significant electoral support if Mr Asonga decides to contest the Bolgatanga Central parliamentary seat

He argued that parliamentary elections are not won solely on academic credentials or political positions, but also through accessibility, personal relationships, community identity, popularity and the ability to mobilise voters

NPP leadership urged to identify grassroots champions

The former Pusiga Constituency Youth Organiser stressed that Awudu Asonga is not the only individual within the Upper East Region who possesses the qualities required to lead the party’s parliamentary campaign

He believes there are other influential personalities across the region’s 15 constituencies whose grassroots appeal and community connections could strengthen the NPP’s chances in 2028

He has therefore called on the party’s regional and national leadership to proactively identify such individuals, engage them and encourage them to consider contesting parliamentary positions

Mr Bashiru acknowledged that persuading Mr Asonga to take up another political responsibility could be challenging, particularly considering the efforts previously made to convince him to contest the constituency chairmanship

However, he expressed optimism that sustained engagement, strategic persuasion and encouragement from party stakeholders could convince him to reconsider a parliamentary ambition

“Who can win?” should guide candidate selection

Mr Bashiru maintained that the NPP must make electoral winnability the central consideration in selecting its parliamentary candidates for the 2028 elections

He cautioned against choosing candidates merely because they have financial resources, impressive academic qualifications or established political connections, arguing that these attributes do not automatically guarantee electoral victory

According to him, the party must prioritise individuals who understand the concerns of ordinary people, enjoy genuine community acceptance and have the capacity to mobilise voters beyond traditional party structures

He concluded that if the NPP is serious about breaking the NDC’s parliamentary dominance in the Upper East Region, it must be willing to embrace a different political strategy, identify its grassroots champions and give them the opportunity to lead the party’s electoral campaign in 2028

By Akparibo Ali Bashiru Former Youth Organiser, Pusiga Constituency – NPP