Former Managing Director of the State Transport Company (STC), Nana Akomea, has stated that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) post-election Thank You tour was gradually becoming a popularity contest instead of a unity-building exercise.

Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr Akomea expressed concern that some party members used the tour to showcase their loyalty to certain flagbearer hopefuls, rather than promoting party unity.

“Our Thank You tour started becoming a popularity contest. People felt they needed to show they supported one person more than the other, and that created tension,” he said.

His comments follow widespread controversies that surrounded the party’s nationwide tour in May this year.

Former presidential aspirant Kennedy Agyapong even pulled out of the tour after a student was reportedly stabbed during one of the tour’s events at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

“In all the regions we visited, there were misunderstandings. At Berekum and Bantama, there was chaos – and this was supposed to be a Thank You tour,” Nana Akomea lamented.

He also cited an incident involving the arrest of Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, saying, “Even when Chairman Wontumi was arrested at EOCO, people were fighting over who would pay his bail – just to show who supports who in the flagbearer race. That was pure showmanship.”

According to the former National Communications Director, the NPP is becoming increasingly divided along the lines of religion, ethnicity, and loyalty to various flagbearer hopefuls.

“There is division over religion, over tribe, and all because of people eyeing the flagbearer slot. This is not good for the party,” he stressed.

He revealed that the growing disunity forced the party’s leadership to take swift action.

“The National Council decided we can’t wait any longer for the congress. With all these divisions, sitting idle was not an option,” he explained. “That is why we have scheduled the flagbearer election for January 2026, to end all the chaos and confusion.”

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially announced that its presidential primary will be held on Saturday, 31st January 2026, following a crucial meeting by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on Tuesday, 17th June 2025.