Senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Arthur Kobina Kennedy, has officially confirmed holding a private consultative meeting with the party’s 2024 presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. The engagement, which took place on Friday, February 13, 2026, was part of a broader effort to gather insights from influential figures within the party following its historic electoral defeat. In a formal statement released on February 15, 2026, Dr. Kennedy revealed that the meeting was held at the request of Dr. Bawumia and lasted approximately 45 minutes, focusing on the urgent need to rebuild the party’s traditional base.
During the discussion, Arthur Kobina Kennedy highlighted a growing consensus among party elders that the NPP has “lost its way,” a sentiment he shared with other prominent figures including former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, and Mr. Kwame Pianim. The dialogue centered on the necessity of reconnecting with the estimated 1.2 million NPP members who reportedly voted for the opposition candidate, John Dramani Mahama, as well as millions of others who abstained from the 2024 polls. Dr. Kennedy emphasized that the party’s recovery depends heavily on whether leadership adopts a national rather than a factional approach.
A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to addressing the detrimental influence of money in internal party politics. Arthur Kobina Kennedy warned that the current trend is converting the nation’s democracy into a “plutocracy” and fueling corruption within the public space. Both men explored various “Exceptional” reform ideas aimed at curbing monetization and restoring the party’s founding spirit of patriotism and grassroots vibrancy. Dr. Kennedy noted that these reforms would require tangible progress over several months rather than mere symbolic actions or “photo-ops.”
In his concluding remarks, Arthur Kobina Kennedy urged the NPP to return to the organizational traditions that defined its success in the period leading to the 2000 elections. He maintained that Dr. Bawumia must be given the necessary time and support to implement a more inclusive leadership style that prioritizes unity over internal rivalry. As the NPP prepares for the 2028 electoral cycle, this meeting represents a formal step toward healing internal wounds and crafting a compelling agenda that resonates with the broader Ghanaian electorate in 2026.
