Analyst Warns NPP’s 2028 Prospects Could Suffer Amid Controversial Napo Remarks

Franklin Cudjoe, President of policy think tank IMANI Africa, has cautioned that recent comments by New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as Napo, risk diminishing the party’s electoral appeal ahead of the 2028 general elections. Cudjoe’s critique follows Napo’s dismissal of former President John Dramani Mahama’s governance record during a recent interview, where he claimed Mahama “performed so abysmally” in office that he “cannot even rate him”, a reference to Mahama’s truncated tenure during Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

In a social media post reacting to the remarks, Cudjoe argued that Napo’s rhetoric mirrors patterns he believes contributed to the NPP’s challenges in the 2024 polls. “Another one..



.he has begun reducing the votes of the NPP in 2028..

.” Cudjoe wrote, urging the energy minister to refrain from political discourse to prevent further reputational damage to the party. While Cudjoe did not specify which of Napo’s statements triggered his latest critique, the intervention reflects growing scrutiny of internal NPP communication strategies as the party regroups after its 2024 electoral performance.

Napo, a key figure in the NPP, has frequently drawn attention for his combative political style. His latest criticism of Mahama who served as president from 2012 to 2016 and is now the National Democratic Congress’s 2024 flagbearer comes amid heightened partisan tensions. However, Cudjoe’s warning underscores broader concerns about how intra-party dynamics and public messaging could influence voter sentiment ahead of future elections.

Political analysts note that the NPP’s post-2024 trajectory hinges on balancing internal cohesion with effective public engagement. While the party has yet to formally respond to Cudjoe’s claims, the exchange highlights the delicate calculus political figures face in navigating criticism of opponents without alienating moderate voters. As Ghana’s political landscape grows increasingly competitive, the impact of such rhetoric on long-term party loyalty and floating voters remains a critical consideration for strategists across the spectrum.

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