The Chairman of the New Patriotic Party’s Presidential Elections Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu, popularly known as Joe Wise, has called for a stricter leadership style within the party, pointing to the National Democratic Congress chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, as a model worth emulating.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen programme on Friday, Mr Osei Owusu said the NPP is struggling with internal indiscipline, which he warned is driving party supporters into the rival NDC.
He argued that the NPP needs a national chairman with the firmness and consistency associated with Mr Asiedu Nketiah, also known as “General Mosquito”, to restore order within the party.
“What I have seen myself is Asiedu Nketiah. He is the one who has made the party attractive. If you want to misbehave, he will deal with you,” Mr Osei Owusu said.
Asked whether the NPP needs a similar figure to change its fortunes, he answered in the affirmative.
His remarks come at a sensitive period for the governing party, which is recovering from the 2024 general election and preparing for its presidential primary scheduled for January 31, 2026.
Mr Osei Owusu said the lack of cohesion within the NPP has made the opposition appear more stable and appealing to disaffected members.
He also proposed a controversial shift away from internal elections for the position of national chairman, suggesting instead a search-and-appoint approach.
In that context, he endorsed former Energy Minister Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko as a suitable candidate, describing him as a figure capable of enforcing discipline and unifying the party.
Mr Osei Owusu’s comments have sparked debate within the NPP, with critics questioning the democratic implications of bypassing internal elections. However, he insisted that restoring discipline is critical to rebuilding the party’s appeal.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
