The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says unity alone will not win it back power in 2028, insisting that a new phase of “candour” and self-examination must replace campaign rhetoric if it is to regain the trust of Ghanaians.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, a senior member of the NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s team, said the party is under no illusion that internal cohesion, while important, is sufficient to secure victory.

Using a metaphor to stress the importance of unity, he said, “as they say, with a broom, if you pull out one, it will break. But if it’s united, you have a formidable force.”

But the Offoase Ayirebi MP was quick to add that unity is only “the foundation” and not a solution in itself.

“We are not under any illusion that all that we need is a united house. No, absolutely not,” he said, arguing that the party’s real test lies in rebuilding confidence among ordinary voters.

For the NPP, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said, the bigger task is “how to win back the love and the trust of the average Ghanaian, especially the first time.”

According to the former Information Minister, that process must begin with honesty about the party’s record in government.

“It starts with a lot of candour in what we did that went right, what we did that went wrong, and being able to communicate that to the Ghanaian people,” he said.

He stressed that the party must be clear with voters about its past decisions and future direction.

“This is where we got it right. This is where we got it wrong. If we have an opportunity, this is what we’re going to do differently.”

Mr Oppong Nkrumah said work has already begun behind the scenes to reset the party ahead of the 2028 elections, noting that unity, while essential, is only the starting point.

“To win 2028 or to give us a very strong footing in 2028, unity is only a foundation,” he said.

He revealed that the party is undergoing a reorganisation, with renewed focus on ideas and policy development.

Referring to recent constitutional amendments within the party, he said the NPP has, for the first time, created a policy secretariat by “constitutional fiat.”

According to him, the aim is to ensure that the party's ideas entering 2028 have broad ideological backing.

The process, he said, involves populating the new structure and building consensus around policy thinking that reflects wider support within the party.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah also addressed discussions around Dr Bawumia’s performance in the party’s flagbearer contest, cautioning against simplistic comparisons with previous elections.

“Every election is dynamic, and it’s different,” he said, pointing to variations in the structure of the contests, the number of candidates involved, and the path to victory.

He noted that while the previous contest included a superdelegate phase and a runoff-style process, the most recent one went straight to the polls, with a different set of candidates.

He highlighted that Dr Bawumia expanded his reach across constituencies, moving “from 213 constituencies that he won to 232 constituencies.”

Mr Oppong Nkrumah argued that the outcome, rather than being a weakness, could strengthen the party’s internal decision-making.

“One of the good things is the fact that he doesn’t have, for example, a 95% mandate in the party,” he said.

According to him, such a result compels broader consultation and sharper thinking.

“That always causes you to listen and consider all of the other opinions and ideas that are being expressed,” he said, adding that it helps “fine-tune the ideas you go to the table with.”

“You don’t go gung ho,” he said, explaining that the process forces reflection rather than complacency. For him, the outcome is “a blessing” that ensures different views are considered “to our best advantage.”

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was declared winner of the NPP flagbearer race by the Electoral Commission after securing 56.48 percent of the total votes cast, earning him the party’s mandate to lead it into the 2028 general elections.