Newly elected Chairman of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Paul Afoko, has said he is not taking office as anybody’s appendage, but as an independently-minded individual.

“Don’t see Paul Afoko and see any other person attached to him, just see me as an individual,” he told party supporters in his acceptance speech after the party’s annual national delegates’ conference at Tamale in the Northern region.

Afoko is perceived to be a pro-Alan Kyeremanten person. He played a major role in the twice-failed flagbearer aspirant’s bid. Kyeremanten lost both attempts to two-time presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Afoko, however, stressed his independence prior to his bid for the chairmanship slot and kept drumming his independence of any of the two camps - Kufuor/Alan and Akufo-Addo - within the NPP.

He said the party must close its ranks and work “as a team” toward winning power in the 2016 elections.

“Let us unite to take this party back to power in 2016,” the new NPP Chairman urged supporters. “As you go home, prepare for government, prepare for power,” Afoko urged supporters.