The first-ever Friends of NAPO group has been launched in the New Juaben North Constituency of the Eastern Region, with a formal inauguration held on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Oyoko. The nine-member executive team, led by Dr. Philip Twum Yeboah, a seasoned consultant and analyst, has been tasked with spearheading the group’s activities in support of Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), the running mate of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

During the official inauguration ceremony, Mr. Kofi Marfo, Vice Chairman of the NPP in New Juaben North, addressed the crowd, explaining that the Friends of NAPO is a strategic campaign group aimed at reinforcing and reengineering the party’s election strategy. The group’s primary focus will be to rebuild the confidence of disillusioned members who have distanced themselves from the party over the years, bringing them back into active politics to campaign for the achievements of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led government.

“The goal of this group is to serve as a backup force, energizing the party’s campaign and positioning it strategically in ways that will win over floating voters and bring back those who have been disgruntled in the past. We are committed to a human-centered campaign focused on direct engagement through house-to-house, market-to-market, and all avenues of voter contact,” Mr. Marfo emphasized.

Mr. Ismael Afram, the Constituency Secretary, reiterated that Friends of NAPO is a recognized campaign group within the NPP’s broader election efforts and called for unity among all subgroups. He dismissed any notion that Friends of NAPO would work against other NPP campaign groups, insisting that the group’s mission is to align with the overall goal of securing victory for the party in the upcoming general election. “We are not detractors; we are here to complement and strengthen the party’s campaign structure,” Mr. Afram affirmed.

Accepting the responsibility of leadership, Dr. Philip Twum Yeboah pledged to work tirelessly to maximize support for the NPP in the December 7th general election. He vowed that the Friends of NAPO would commit to a robust, on-the-ground campaign, engaging voters in every corner of the constituency. “We are dedicated to taking this campaign door-to-door, house-to-house, and market-to-market, ensuring that the good works of President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia are known to every voter,” Dr. Yeboah stated.

Prominent figures in attendance included Mr. George Adu Darko, a founding member of the NPP, Asemfrofro Junior, Secretary of the group, and Nana Sarpong Kumakuma, the Krotihene of Oyoko, as well as several party elders.

The *Friends of NAPO* launch marks a significant moment in the NPP’s campaign efforts in the New Juaben North Constituency, as the group looks to rally support and galvanize voters in preparation for the 2024 elections.

Credit: Nana Kwame George, Snr Freelance Journalist E/R