Prof. Smart Sarpong: NPP Should Focus on Introspection, Not a Thank You Tour

Prof. Smart Sarpong, Senior Research Fellow at Kumasi Technical University, has urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to focus on introspection and internal cohesion rather than engaging in a “Thank You Tour” following the 2024 election defeat.

Speaking on the Ghana Se Sen Morning Show on Lawson TV/Radio on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, he stressed that it is critical for the NPP to build a more responsible, unified political party moving into the 2028 general elections.

Prof. Sarpong emphasized that while expressing gratitude to supporters is important, the NPP’s priority should be self-reflection and addressing internal wrangling.

“The NPP should do introspection before embarking on any thank you tour. It’s good to thank supporters, but they need to first look inward and fix the party internally,” he stated.

Prof. Sarpong cautioned that excessive focus on external displays of gratitude could open a “Pandora’s Box” of further internal conflict, which could weaken the party’s ability to present a united front in future elections.

“The NPP tends to engage more in internal wrangling than in external battles. If the internal debate gets too heated, it risks causing division, and some members might backslide on election day. That’s not the type of political party that will win elections, and that’s why people are calling for a halt to the thank you tour to avoid unnecessary distractions.”

The NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), according to Prof. Sarpong, both need to take responsibility for building mature, responsible political parties, free of individual interests and petty infighting.

He called on both parties to focus on the bigger picture, prioritizing national issues over internal conflicts.

Prof. Sarpong further reflected on the timing of the NPP’s parliamentary candidate selection, stating that the party missed the opportunity to plan strategically by waiting until the year of the election to elect its candidates.

“The NPP waited until 2024 to elect its parliamentary candidates, but they were in power and could have done this one year before the election. By June 2026, they should be fully prepared, having selected their candidates and formulated their strategies long in advance,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of internal elections being concluded well before the actual election campaign begins.

Prof. Sarpong concluded by addressing the tensions within the NPP, particularly the rivalry between Kennedy Agyapong and Abronye DC, suggesting that these internal conflicts are distractions from the real challenge ahead.

“The real battle is not between Kennedy Agyapong and Abronye DC. If they continue to trade insults, they will only weaken the party and distract from the issues that matter,” he remarked.