{
  "id": 3280240,
  "title": "Judge NPP chairmanship candidates on merit, not geographical grounds – Paul Afoko",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/judge-npp-chairmanship-candidates-on-merit-not-geographical-grounds",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T14:11:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/judge-npp-chairmanship-candidates-on-merit-not-geographical-grounds-paul-afoko/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Paul Afoko has called for the party's next chairman to be chosen based on merit, not geography. The NPP National Chairman aspirant made the statement Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the NPP headquarters in Accra, following arguments that the next National Chairman should not come from the north due to the party's presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, also hailing from the region.\n\nAfoko disagreed with the suggestion, stating that the NPP's constitution does not impose geographical restrictions on its leadership. He emphasized that the party is a national organization structured and operated on a national basis. Afoko urged delegates to evaluate candidates based on their leadership qualities, experience, and ability to unite and reorganize the party ahead of the 2028 general election.\n\nThe former NPP National Chairman rejected the notion that Dr Bawumia's election as the presidential candidate represents only northern Ghana, clarifying that Bawumia was elected to lead the entire NPP. Afoko used the party's elephant symbol to illustrate his point, emphasizing that every leg of the elephant belongs to the same animal and must be strong for it to move forward. He urged party members to avoid geographical divisions and focus on building a united national organization capable of regaining the trust of Ghanaians.",
  "summary": "New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairmanship aspirant Paul Afoko has urged delegates to elect the party’s next chairman based on competence, integrity and experience rather than geographical considerations.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Titus-Glover files nomination today to contest NPP National Organiser position",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/titus-glover-files-nomination-today-to-contest-npp-national-organiser",
        "published": "2026-08-25T09:23:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Paul Afoko files nomination, pledges to return NPP to power in 2028",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/paul-afoko-files-nomination-pledges-to-return-npp-to-power-in-2028",
        "published": "2026-08-25T11:20:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Starr FM",
        "title": "Afoko files for NPP Chairmanship; pledges to reunite party and back Bawumia for 2028",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/afoko-files-for-npp-chairmanship-pledges-to-reunite-party-and-back",
        "published": "2026-08-25T15:11:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}