The Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) USA Branch, Obaa Yaa Amponsah Frimpong, has urged the party to prioritise internal healing, unity and reform before opening the race for its next leadership positions.

She said the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 general elections had left the party weakened and in need of careful diagnosis and recovery, warning that premature competition for positions could further deepen existing divisions.

Using the analogy of an injured racehorse, she said the party could not be expected to perform effectively without first addressing the problems that had weakened it. “We cannot hastily saddle a sick horse and expect it to gallop,” she said, arguing that the NPP must first treat its internal wounds and provide the necessary conditions for recovery.

Mrs Amponsah Frimpong called on national leaders to take seriously the directive against vilifying fellow party members and to enforce discipline when members breach the party’s code of conduct and constitutional provisions. She said potential candidates must also take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters and refrain from actions that could undermine the party’s unity.

“Discipline at all levels should be non-negotiable, starting with our national leadership,” she said. “If we fail to manage our own ranks as leaders, we will undoubtedly struggle to control them and maintain the peace and unity necessary for meaningful progress and comeback.”

She further cautioned party members against the premature scramble for positions, saying the time for nominations would come but “that time is not now”. According to her, members must respect the party’s structures and each other as the NPP works to rebuild public confidence.

Mrs Amponsah Frimpong identified five key areas she believes should guide the party’s recovery: unity and cohesion, introspection and accountability, effective leadership and capacity building, strategic communication and branding, and stronger grassroots engagement.

On accountability, she said the NPP must undertake an honest assessment of the factors that contributed to its electoral defeat, stressing that such introspection should not be driven by a desire to punish individuals but by the need to understand past mistakes and restore public confidence.

She also called for greater investment in leadership development through mentorship, training and new ideas, while urging the party to strengthen its communication and branding strategy to reshape its public image.

“Roots determine fruits,” she said, stressing that the NPP’s grassroots must remain central to its rebuilding efforts because they are the foundation and custodians of the party.

Mrs Amponsah Frimpong said the NPP must also learn to manage its internal disagreements more discreetly, arguing that public displays of division could make it more difficult for the party to regain the trust of voters.

She urged members to approach the rebuilding process with patience, resilience and collective responsibility, quoting Confucius that, “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

She said the ultimate objective should be to rebuild an NPP that is united, disciplined, attractive and credible enough to regain the confidence of Ghanaians and compete effectively in future elections.