Private legal practitioner and political analyst Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers says the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has not demonstrated sufficient remorse over the economic and governance challenges that contributed to its defeat in the 2024 general elections.
According to him, the party’s main challenge is not a lack of experienced or ambitious politicians but the absence of leadership capable of convincing Ghanaians that meaningful lessons have been learnt from its previous time in government.
Speaking on TV3’s Big Issues on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, Mr Brako-Powers said he did not see a party that had genuinely acknowledged its past mistakes.
“The NPP’s biggest problem is not a shortage of leaders. It is a shortage of leadership that can convince Ghanaians that the party has learnt from the mistakes that contributed to its 2024 defeat.”
He argued that the party’s new leadership should be assessed not simply by the level of enthusiasm it generates among its supporters, but by whether it can restore public confidence ahead of the 2028 elections.
Mr Brako-Powers said the key question should be whether the new leadership can rebuild the NPP into a political party that Ghanaian voters are willing to support again.
NPP Must Acknowledge Its Mistakes
The political analyst said the party’s messaging must move beyond the assumption that voters will automatically return simply because a new leadership team has been elected.
Instead, he said the NPP should acknowledge its shortcomings, demonstrate what it has learnt and clearly explain how it intends to govern differently in the future.
“We made mistakes. We have learnt from them. Here is what we will do differently.”
He said achieving this would require an honest assessment of the NPP’s record in government, particularly the economic difficulties and governance controversies that contributed to declining public confidence.
Questions Over Wontumi’s Election
Mr Brako-Powers also raised concerns about the political implications of the election of Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, as NPP National Chairman, amid legal controversy surrounding him.
He clarified that his concern was not that Wontumi should be prevented from contesting because of allegations against him.
Rather, he said NPP delegates should consider whether his election could become a political distraction as the party seeks to develop a strong message ahead of the 2028 elections.
“It is an argument that delegates must consider the political consequences of their choice.”
He said the NPP’s immediate priority should be to demonstrate that its leadership transition represents more than a change in personalities.
According to him, the party must show a genuine shift in political culture, accountability and governance if it hopes to regain the confidence of Ghanaian voters and return to power in 2028.
