Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato is a Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana
A Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Joshua Zaato, has described the decision by former NPP National Chairman, Paul Afoko, to rejoin the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and contest for the chairmanship position as a ‘big blow’ to the newly formed United Party, which many had expected Afoko to support.
According to Dr Zaato, Afoko’s return demonstrates that the party’s recent amnesty for former members announced by the NPP’s National Executive Committee is yielding results.
The amnesty was introduced after internal data revealed that many grassroots members had become disenchanted during the party’s eight years in power and stayed away from the last general election.
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In a 3news.com report on October 29, 2025, Zaato said Afoko is ‘the biggest fish’ among all those who left the party, noting that few expected the amnesty to attract someone of his stature.
Dr Zaato added that Afoko’s decision has already re-energised parts of the NPP base, as a former national chairman commands nationwide influence.
Beyond political strategy, he believes the move carries strong emotional and symbolic weight, showing that Afoko still regards the NPP as his political home despite being suspended and the personal challenges his family faced at the time.
The lecturer commended Afoko for maintaining political decorum during his years away from the party, saying his restraint and refusal to publicly attack the NPP demonstrated maturity and offered a lesson to younger politicians about respecting their political roots even after disagreements.
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He further observed that although Afoko had the means to form his own party or join another, he chose reconciliation over division an indication that the NPP remains attractive to its old members.
Commenting on Afoko’s prospects in the upcoming chairmanship race, Dr Zaato said while it is difficult to predict the outcome, Afoko remains a “formidable candidate” and his comeback could make the contest one of the most competitive in the party’s history.
MRA/AM
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